Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
ProgramsPhilosophy and Religious Studies
Philosophy
CIP38.01
770 colleges offer Philosophy. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 770
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $56,786
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,000
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 64
- Associate's
- 128
- Bachelor's
- 770
- Master's
- 166
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 6
- Doctoral
- 103
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 36
What it covers
About Philosophy
Philosophy is part of Philosophy and Religious Studies: instructional programs that focus on logical inquiry, philosophical analysis, and the academic study of organized systems of belief and religious practices.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 38.01.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 38.01.
- Philosophy
- Logic
- Ethics
- Applied and Professional Ethics
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 64 | Not reported | $21,0001 college |
| Associate's | 128 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 770 | $56,7864 yrs after · 83 colleges | $19,00071 colleges |
| Master's | 166 | $71,7334 yrs after · 2 colleges | $49,6911 college |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 103 | $115,6304 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| First professional | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 36 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Philosophy graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 193 graduates
$107,454
debt $17,750
- 2
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 31 graduates
$98,592
debt not reported
- 3
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · 71 graduates
$97,519
debt $19,000
- 4
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public · 11 graduates
$78,041
debt not reported
- 5
Williamsburg, VA · Public · 30 graduates
$75,423
debt $18,000
- 6
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit · 17 graduates
$74,507
debt $21,500
- 7
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · 93 graduates
$71,796
debt $11,349
- 8
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · 46 graduates
$71,790
debt $18,500
- 9
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 71 graduates
$71,709
debt not reported
- 10
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public · 45 graduates
$70,709
debt $10,100
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Philosophy by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Computers and math
Mathematicians
- Median pay
- $126,710
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Master's degree
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Education
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $80,260
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Instructing
Education
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $79,940
- Outlook
- Slower than average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Mathematics
- Speaking
- Active Listening
More in Philosophy and Religious Studies
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Philosophy
How many colleges offer Philosophy?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Philosophy at these degree levels: certificate (64 colleges), associate's (128 colleges), bachelor's (770 colleges), master's (166 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (6 colleges), doctoral (103 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (36 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Philosophy graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Philosophy earn $56,786 a year four years after finishing, across 83 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Philosophy graduates earn the most?
University of Pennsylvania reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Philosophy: $107,454 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.