Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Philosophy Degrees 2025

Badge for BEST FOR PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES
By Dr. Brian Carlson and Dr. James Barham
Updated:

The best philosophy liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best philosophy degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding philosophy faculty.

Featured Programs

Key Takeaways

  • A philosophy degree allows students to explore abstract and real phenomena, including arguments and investigations about their logical structures.
  • Get ready to study diverse core subjects like logic, ethics, aesthetics, symbolism, epistemology, metaphysics, and the history of philosophy.
  • Most philosophy graduates can find jobs in management, education, social service, the legal sector, and the business world.

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Philosophy Programs in 2025

  1. Wesleyan University
  2. Amherst College
    +2
  3. Swarthmore College
    –1
  4. United States Military Academy
    +12
  5. Williams College
  6. Oberlin College
    +12
  7. Wellesley College
    –4
  8. Barnard College
    –1
  9. Vassar College
    +6
  10. Bryn Mawr College
    +9

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, our ranking of the top ten liberal arts colleges philosophy programs saw a large amount of shuffling. One school that stands out for a large jump in ranking positions is the United States Military Academy. The school was able to make such a substantial jump because of expanded academic programs with a stronger focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science, preparing cadets for emerging challenges in military and civilian leadership. The academy has also upgraded its physical training facilities and athletic resources to enhance cadet wellness and physical readiness. Additionally, new leadership development programs have been integrated into the curriculum, emphasizing real-world problem-solving and critical thinking skills. These initiatives align with the academy’s mission to produce well-rounded leaders for the future.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Philosophy Degrees

  22. #19

    University of Richmond

    University of Richmond , VA
    #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Virginia 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 2025 #2 Best Small Colleges in Virginia 2025 #7 Best Colleges in Virginia 2024

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    24%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1464/33

    What is University of Richmond known for?

    University of Richmond’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of Richmond Philosophy Majors:

    • Philosophy
    • Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law
    Source
    Compare school

Career Outlook for Students with Philosophy Degree

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Philosophy And Religious Studies

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary2.27%$79,930

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$79,930
Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Do you sometimes pause and think about why things are the way they are? If your curiosity gets the best of you, it may be a nudge to pave a career path with a degree in philosophy.

In a nutshell, philosophy is best defined as a way of thinking. Studying philosophy as an antecedent of science enhances your ability to evaluate and resolve problems. Analyzing concepts, definitions, arguments, and problems will become easier once you enroll in a philosophy degree. 

In a philosophy degree program, students are taught to comprehend complex texts, solve problems, formulate logical arguments, and analyze complex situations with exceptional skills. Some of the promising professions waiting for you are professors, researchers, ministers, consultants, counselors, and journalists. It’s time to start researching the best liberal arts college to enroll in a philosophy program.

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in philosophy.

Go to all Liberal Arts Colleges for Philosophy programs

The Best Philosophy Schools in Your State

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