Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees 2025

Badge for BEST FOR PHILOSOPHY RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES
By Dr. Brian Carlson and Dr. James Barham
Updated:

The best philosophy research universities 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.

Key Takeaways

  • A philosophy degree helps students to gain practical skills that are highly transferable to a wide range of workplaces.
  • A philosophy degree can lead to a wide range of career opportunities in education, political science, religion, and business.
  • If you are interested in attending a large university that is focused on research and publishing, a research university may be the right choice for you when pursuing a philosophy degree.

Top 10 Research Universities Philosophy Programs in 2025

  1. Harvard University
  2. University of California, Berkeley
    +5
  3. Columbia University
    +1
  4. Stanford University
    +2
  5. University of Chicago
  6. Yale University
    –4
  7. Princeton University
    –4
  8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  9. University of Michigan
    +2
  10. New York University
    +2

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, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best research universities for philosophy degrees saw a considerable amount of shuffling. The University of California, Berkeley gained the most ranking positions as a result of the Ethics and Technology Initiative, which explores the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital privacy, offering philosophy students interdisciplinary opportunities to engage with cutting-edge ethical issues. Berkeley has also expanded its Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program, providing students with a broader analytical framework that links philosophical inquiry with real-world social and political challenges. Additionally, new seminar series and workshops focused on applied ethics and global justice provide philosophy students with opportunities to engage in contemporary debates and collaborative research with faculty.

Featured Programs

Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees

  19. #16

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles , CA
    #9 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #14 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #14 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #17 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $65K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    What is University of Southern California known for?

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

    Most Influential Alumni

    USC Philosophy Majors:

    • BA in Philosophy
    • BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
    • BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Law
    • BA in Philosophy and Physics
    • BA in Linguistics and Philosophy
    Source
    Compare school

Career Outlook for Students with Philosophy Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Philosophy And Religious Studies

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $8,942
  • Avg. Expenses*: $18,834
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 11 years
  • Job Growth: 2.27%
  • Number of Jobs: 26,400
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

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.

A bachelor’s degree in philosophy is an excellent starting point for a career in public service, corporate governance, education, and a host of other intellectually stimulating fields. As a philosophy major, you’ll study ethics, epistemology, and rhetorical debate.

Your philosophy degree will incorporate classic works by great thinkers alongside a critical analysis of relevant literature, history, and social order. The best schools for philosophy are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of philosophy concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

In Greek, philosophy means love of wisdom. If you’re considering pursuing a career in this field, it’s wise to learn about the best research universities for philosophy degrees. Modern philosophy can be very interesting, but choosing where to study the discipline can be overwhelming.

Fret not; it is possible for you to find the best universities with an excellent philosophy department. The good news is there are several prominent research universities that offer high-quality and robust philosophy curricula on the graduate degree level.

Studying this field of logic and reason will make students better at analyzing concepts, reasoning, definitions, challenges, and arguments. Organizing ideas and issues, dealing with value questions, and extracting what’s essential from large quantities of information are all aided by this study.

A surprising number of top schools, publishing firms, and other industries worldwide hire philosophy graduates from the best research universities. Hence, it’s crucial to take time to assess which institution to enroll in for a philosophy major, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate.

If you think a liberal arts college may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for a bachelor’s in philosophy.

Go to all Research Universities for Philosophy programs

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