Grad school · Philosophy and religious studies

Philosophy graduate programs: earnings and debt by school

149 colleges award master's degrees in philosophy. Graduates of the typical program earned $56,977 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $49,691 in federal loans taken at the school.

Master's programs149

Graduates in 2023-24806

Typical median debt$49,691

Typical earnings 1 yr after$56,977

Typical earnings 4 yrs after$71,734

Earnings to debt1.1x

Official field: Philosophy. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.

Degree level	Programs	Typical earnings 1 yr after	Typical median debt
Master's	149	$56,977	$49,691
Doctoral	102	n/a	$76,426
Professional doctorate	1	n/a	n/a

Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay

Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.

Master's programs in philosophy

Highest first-year earnings

Johnson University$71,658

Biola University$56,977

American University$55,267

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
American UniversityWashington, DC	30	$55,267	$82,273	$49,691
Fordham UniversityBronx, NY	25	n/a	$61,194	n/a
Johnson UniversityKnoxville, TN	29	$71,658	n/a	n/a
Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA	24	$56,977	n/a	n/a
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Baylor UniversityWaco, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA	24	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, OH	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	19	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
DePaul UniversityChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Franciscan University of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OH	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
George Washington UniversityWashington, DC	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Holy Apostles College and SeminaryCromwell, CT	32	n/a	n/a	n/a
Houston Christian UniversityHouston, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Kent State University at KentKent, OH	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Miami University-OxfordOxford, OH	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mount St. Mary's UniversityEmmitsburg, MD	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
New Orleans Baptist Theological SeminaryNew Orleans, LA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rice UniversityHouston, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA	17	n/a	n/a	n/a
San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, NC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
The New SchoolNew York, NY	26	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of MontanaMissoula, MT	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tiffin UniversityTiffin, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tufts UniversityMedford, MA	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY	10	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DallasIrving, TX	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of HoustonHouston, TX	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MemphisMemphis, TN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MississippiUniversity, MS	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, MO	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	9	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of RochesterRochester, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of St ThomasHouston, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ToledoToledo, OH	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI	13	n/a	n/a	n/a
Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, IN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	4	n/a	n/a	n/a

Doctoral programs in philosophy

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, AZ	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria, FL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Baylor UniversityWaco, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Boston UniversityBoston, MA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Brown UniversityProvidence, RI	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Caribbean University-PoncePonce, PR	7	n/a	n/a	$76,426
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
DePaul UniversityChicago, IL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duke UniversityDurham, NC	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Fordham UniversityBronx, NY	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
New York UniversityNew York, NY	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ	11	n/a	n/a	n/a
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rice UniversityHouston, TX	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FL	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stanford UniversityStanford, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
The New SchoolNew York, NY	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX	12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tiffin UniversityTiffin, OH	23	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArizonaTucson, AZ	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-DavisDavis, CA	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA	15	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-San DiegoLa Jolla, CA	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ChicagoChicago, IL	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of DallasIrving, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of FloridaGainesville, FL	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of GeorgiaAthens, GA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of IowaIowa City, IA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KansasLawrence, KS	8	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of KentuckyLexington, KY	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MemphisMemphis, TN	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of North TexasDenton, TX	5	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of OregonEugene, OR	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of RochesterRochester, NY	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of South FloridaTampa, FL	3	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	7	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of St ThomasHouston, TX	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN	4	n/a	n/a	n/a
Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO	2	n/a	n/a	n/a
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI	1	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT	6	n/a	n/a	n/a

Professional doctorate programs in philosophy

Filter by school, city or state

College	Graduates (2023-24)	Earnings 1 yr after	Earnings 4 yrs after	Median debt
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA	0	n/a	n/a	n/a

Frequently asked questions

How much do philosophy graduates earn?

Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $56,977 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.

How much debt do philosophy graduate students take on?

The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $49,691 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.

Undergraduate: Philosophy major

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.