Best Philosophy Programs

Philosophy studies the “why” of the world. Touching on humanities fields such as law, ethics, and religion, philosophy is an analytical discipline that focuses on the fundamental questions of existence. A bachelor’s in philosophy provides a survey of the field and introduces students to applying philosophical principles to real-world problems.

A bachelor’s in philosophy generally takes four years to complete, but some online programs may be shorter. Net prices vary, but in 2020-2021, the average bachelor’s program cost $9,375 in tuition and fees annually at a four-year public institution. A private nonprofit four-year school cost an average of $35,852 per year. Some online programs may cost less.

Graduates of philosophy programs typically pursue careers requiring strong analytical and communication skills, such as in law and business. Salaries are generally good, with the average bachelor’s graduate taking home a median of $69,370 per year, according to 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. Many people proceed to a graduate program, with many graduates going to law school.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team

Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Bachelor’s in Philosophy ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified 801 schools that qualify for our ranking list based on the following criteria.

To ensure the accuracy and quality of our final ranked list, the ranking team reviewed each qualifying school to ensure it met the criteria for our ranking, and then applied our proprietary ranking methodology to identify the best schools offering this program in the nation. Each school is ranked based on a formula measuring academic factors (60%) and affordability (40%).

The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy work in many fields with various job growth projections. They may become software developers, teachers, or business managers. In addition, some philosophy majors go on to earn advanced degrees in education, law, business, or medicine.

A bachelor’s degree in philosophy requires about 120 credits and takes about four years to complete. Learners who want to finish faster can take more courses each term or go to school year-round.

A philosophy degree encourages students to think hard about where they fit into the world. It helps them develop strong reasoning, analytical, and communication skills, which students can apply in any line of work. The degree also gives students a strong foundation for pursuing a master’s or doctorate in another field.

Philosophy students learn to evaluate the arguments and reasoning for areas such as knowledge, morality, and religion. They study deep questions such as “Can we really know anything?” and “Is it ever OK to lie?” Students learn how to use analytical methods to evaluate values, factual claims, and arguments.

Typical courses include topics in philosophy, philosophy of the mind, and the history of modern philosophy. Learners also study contemporary analytic philosophy. Actual required courses vary by school and concentration.

Bachelor’s in philosophy program students graduate with the ability to reason well, apply the concepts of logical theory, and explain the philosophical positions taken by various historical figures. They can point out the major issues in different philosophy areas and summarize the primary arguments for each position.

Most schools that offer a bachelor’s degree in philosophy offer a bachelor of arts degree. However, schools may also offer a bachelor of philosophy degree that focuses more on philosophy and less on the other humanities.

The general philosophy concentration exposes students to coursework from both theoretical and practical philosophy. It also covers the history of both modern and ancient Greek philosophy. Students learn about logic, ethics, and political philosophy.

A concentration in law and justice focuses on ethics and law. Students take courses such as philosophy of law, professional ethics, and healthcare ethics. They get a strong foundation in the philosophies that guide law and justice.

This concentration requires an equal number of credits in philosophy and the humanities or political science. The curriculum matches philosophy courses with the humanities. It concentrates on the history and practice of practical philosophy.

The philosophy and science concentration requires equal units in philosophy and natural science, social science, or science, technology, and society. The curriculum balances the sciences and philosophy.

The political and moral philosophy concentration focuses on the philosophy of questioning what is normal. It covers law, politics, morality, and ethics. Students take contemporary value theory, history of philosophy, and theoretical philosophy courses.

To get into a bachelor’s in philosophy program, applicants must submit an undergraduate application to their chosen colleges and universities and pay any application fees. They can often use a program such as Common App to submit all of their applications at once.

After applying, candidates most likely provide official transcripts from their high school and any colleges or universities they’ve attended. GED certificate-holders may need to submit a copy of their certificate or official test scores.

Many schools require test scores from college entrance exams such as the ACT or SAT. Prospective learners may also need to write a college application essay or ask their former teachers or work supervisors for letters of recommendation.

Generally speaking, a bachelor’s in philosophy is worth it. While it doesn’t have a reputation as a money-making degree, it teaches useful analytical skills that graduates can apply in a variety of fields. Philosophy is also a discipline that enriches the lives of those who study it, leading to new perspectives on life. It also prepares students for diverse graduate programs.Of course, decisions of worth are based on an individual’s financial circumstances. For those taking on a large amount of student debt to attend college, it is worth investigating post-college job prospects.

A bachelor’s in philosophy is one of the most flexible undergraduate degrees. The fundamental skills a philosophy education teaches are communication, argument, and analysis. These are highly applicable skills in many fields, including writing, communication, marketing and market research, and law.Many graduates go on to pursue further degrees to specialize and apply their skills in a particular field.

Philosophy graduates can continue their education with a graduate degree. The most popular next step is law school. The analytical and argumentative skills that philosophy programs teach make graduates excellent candidates to become lawyers.

Others pursue a philosophy master’s degree or Ph.D. in the field. Ph.D. candidates conduct independent research and analysis projects. Many eventually go into academia and continue to develop the philosophy field.

Those who don’t pursue further education continue to develop their skills in other ways. Many obtain career certifications to further specialize in their chosen field. They also continue to read philosophy journals and articles to keep up to date with current thoughts.

According to Payscale data, people with a BA in philosophy made an average annual salary of $74,000 per year as of July 2022. But people with these degrees can pursue careers in various fields. For example, they can become journalists, who made a median annual salary of $48,370 in May 2021, according to the BLS. They can also begin careers as public relations specialists. These workers earned a median of $62,800 per year in 2021.

However, these numbers only apply to those who start with a bachelor’s degree. Many philosophy students continue their education at graduate school and gain experience that may lead to high-paying careers.

High-paying jobs that use a philosophy major’s communication and analysis skills include market research analyst and human resources manager. These positions made median annual salaries of $63,920 and $126,230, respectively, as per May 2021 BLS data.

Many philosophy majors choose to pursue advanced degrees, particularly in law. For those who decide to become lawyers, they can earn median annual salaries of $127,990 per year, as of May 2021 BLS data.

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