Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees

Badge for BEST FOR PHILOSOPHY RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

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

Sort by:
  1. Harvard University
  2. Yale University
  3. Princeton University
  4. Columbia University
  5. University of Chicago
  6. Stanford University
  7. University of California, Berkeley
  8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  9. Cornell University
  10. Duke University
  1. Harvard University
  2. University of California, Berkeley
  3. Columbia University
  4. University of Chicago
  5. Stanford University
  6. Yale University
  7. Princeton University
  8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  9. University of Michigan
  10. Cornell University
  1. University of Texas at Austin 29%
  2. University of Virginia 21%
  3. University of Michigan 20%
  4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 20%
  5. University of Notre Dame 15%
  6. University of California, Berkeley 14%
  7. University of Southern California 13%
  8. New York University 13%
  9. Georgetown University 12%
  10. University of California, Los Angeles 11%
  1. University of California, Berkeley 19 to 1
  2. University of California, Los Angeles 18 to 1
  3. University of Texas at Austin 17 to 1
  4. University of Virginia 15 to 1
  5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 13 to 1
  6. Georgetown University 11 to 1
  7. University of Michigan 11 to 1
  8. University of Southern California 9 to 1
  9. Cornell University 9 to 1
  10. University of Notre Dame 9 to 1
  1. Columbia University $63,530
  2. Brown University $62,304
  3. University of Chicago $62,241
  4. University of Pennsylvania $61,710
  5. University of Southern California $61,503
  6. Cornell University $61,015
  7. Dartmouth College $60,870
  8. Northwestern University $60,768
  9. Duke University $60,244
  10. Georgetown University $59,957
  1. University of Chicago $62,640
  2. Brown University $60,944
  3. University of Southern California $60,446
  4. Dartmouth College $58,953
  5. Johns Hopkins University $58,720
  6. University of Notre Dame $58,190
  7. Duke University $57,900
  8. Northwestern University $56,067
  9. Princeton University $56,010
  10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology $55,510
  1. Vanderbilt University
  2. Dartmouth College
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  4. University of Virginia
  5. University of Southern California
  6. University of Texas at Austin
  7. Johns Hopkins University
  8. Georgetown University
  9. Northwestern University
  10. Brown University
  1. Vanderbilt University
  2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  3. University of Notre Dame
  4. Dartmouth College
  5. Georgetown University
  6. University of Virginia
  7. Brown University
  8. Northwestern University
  9. University of Texas at Austin
  10. University of Southern California
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4%
  2. Stanford University 4%
  3. Harvard University 4%
  4. Columbia University 4%
  5. Princeton University 4%
  6. Yale University 5%
  7. University of Pennsylvania 6%
  8. Dartmouth College 6%
  9. University of Chicago 6%
  10. Duke University 6%
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3 to 1
  2. Stanford University 4 to 1
  3. Yale University 4 to 1
  4. Princeton University 4 to 1
  5. Harvard University 5 to 1
  6. University of Chicago 5 to 1
  7. Columbia University 6 to 1
  8. Duke University 6 to 1
  9. Northwestern University 6 to 1
  10. Brown University 6 to 1
  1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
  2. University of California, Los Angeles $11,442
  3. University of California, Berkeley $11,442
  4. University of Texas at Austin $11,752
  5. University of Virginia $16,547
  6. University of Michigan $16,865
  7. Harvard University $55,587
  8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology $55,878
  9. Princeton University $56,010
  10. Stanford University $56,169
  1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $10,552
  2. University of California, Los Angeles $11,442
  3. University of California, Berkeley $11,442
  4. University of Texas at Austin $12,050
  5. University of Virginia $17,674
  6. University of Michigan $24,902
  7. Cornell University $29,500
  8. New York University $35,982
  9. University of Pennsylvania $38,732
  10. Yale University $45,700

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.

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Philosophy Bachelor’s Degrees

Earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy can open numerous professionals doors. As a philosophy major, you’ll spend a great deal of your time poring over compelling historical texts, exploring complex ideas, and engaging discourse over subjects like ethics, religion, and politics. This education will provide you with valuable skills of debate, communication, and persuasion. Moreover, areas of consideration such as morality, behavior, and the human condition have historically factored into the way we understand entities such as national governments, religious organizations, and communities. Philosophy majors must build a strong background in these dimensions of human life in order to contextualize much of the literature they’ll be required to read. As such, philosophy majors are uniquely positioned to understand history, participate in the political process, analyze policy impacts, and even to serve in public office.

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Philosophy is a great major because it is interdisciplinary in nature. This means you’ll gain various practical skills. The skills of communication, research, and critical analysis that you’ll develop as a philosophy major are highly transferable to a wide range of workplace settings. Increasingly, progressive companies in the tech, marketing, and retail industries have recruited professionals with a background in philosophy to help attack challenges and seize opportunities with creativity, critical thinking, and a strong grounding in ethics.

This makes the work of today’s leading thinkers extremely consequential. Today, top influencers in philosophy are breaking new ground in feminist theory, the philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, and much more.

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Once you’ve declared your major in philosophy, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of humanities-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized philosophy electives, there are several common courses that most philosophy majors will be required to take, including:

  • Social and Political Philosophy
  • Critical Thinking
  • Philosophy and Globalization
  • Topics in Feminist Ethics
  • Philosophy and Literature
  • General Ethics
  • Biomedical Ethics
  • Philosophy of Knowledge
  • Environmental Philosophy

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Philosophy is not an inherently career-oriented major, insofar as this degree may not necessarily lead you down a specific career path. Instead, majoring in philosophy will arm you with an array of 21st Century workplace skills that are applicable in a wide range of fields from education, marketing and government to healthcare, information security, and corporate ethics. This means that your philosophy major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:

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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.

Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees

  1. #1

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

  2. #2

    Yale University

    New Haven , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    5%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

  3. #3

    Princeton University

    Princeton , NJ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/33

    Princeton University Philosophy Major:

    • AB in Philosophy
    Source
  4. #4

    Columbia University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    Columbia University Philosophy Majors:

    • Philosophy
    • Philosophy & Economics
    Source
  5. #5

    University of Chicago

    Chicago , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    University of Chicago Philosophy Majors:

    • BA in Philosophy
    • Philosophy and Allied Fields
    Source
  6. #6

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

    Stanford University Philosophy Majors:

    • BA in Philosophy
    • BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies
    Source
  7. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    46K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1420/32

    UC Berkeley Philosophy Major:

    • BA in Philosophy
    Source
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1545/35

    MIT Philosophy Majors:

    • Philosophy
    • Linguistics & Philosophy
    Source
  9. #9

    Cornell University

    Ithaca , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1470/33

  10. #10

    Duke University

    Durham , NC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

  11. #11

    University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    50K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1430/32

  12. #12

    New York University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    60K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1455/32

  13. #13

    University of Notre Dame

    Notre Dame , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    15%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1475/33

    University of Notre Dame Philosophy Majors:

    • Philosophy
    • Philosophy and Theology (joint major)
    Source
  14. #14

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    31K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    University of Pennsylvania Philosophy Major:

    • Philosophy
    Source
  15. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    47K

    UCLA Philosophy Major:

    • BA in Philosophy
    • BA in Linguistics and Philosophy
    Source
  16. #16

    Brown University

    Providence , RI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/34

  17. #17

    Northwestern University

    Evanston , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/34

  18. #18

    Georgetown University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    23K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1465/33

    Georgetown University Philosophy Major Concentrations:

    • Bioethics
    Source
  19. #19

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore , MD
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/35

  20. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    29%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1340/29

    UT Austin Philosophy Major:

    • Philosophy
    Source
  21. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    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
  22. #22

    University of Virginia

    Charlottesville , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Acceptance

    21%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    University of Virginia Philosophy Majors:

    • Philosophy
    • Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law
    Source
  23. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1385/30

    What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    UNC Philosophy Major:

    • BA in Philosophy
    Source
  24. #24

    Dartmouth College

    Hanover , NH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

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)

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary2.75%$76,104

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$46,769$75,035$123,451

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Ohio14% higher than average$80,060
#3 Georgia13% higher than average$80,350
#4 Texas10% higher than average$81,680
#5 New York5% higher than average$94,880
#6 Vermont13% higher than average$101,990

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$76,104

Go to all Research Universities for Philosophy programs

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Learn More About Philosophy

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