30 Best Colleges for Philosophy 2024

Philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, and reason. It helps students think critically and solve problems. Here are the 30 best colleges for studying philosophy in 2024. Best Colleges for Philosophy listing includes GPA requirements, SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rates, admission requirements, and salary information. We also highlight professional outcomes and academic highlights for each college.

30 Best Colleges for Philosophy

1. Harvard University

GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1520
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $70,000.

Professional Outcomes: Harvard philosophy graduates often go into academia, law, business, and public policy. They are valued for their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Academic Highlights: Harvard offers a wide range of philosophy courses, from ancient philosophy to modern ethical issues. Students can engage in deep discussions and research.

2. Princeton University

GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Admission Requirements: Excellent GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $68,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates work in diverse fields like law, business, education, and government. They are known for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Princeton offers a strong philosophy program with courses in metaphysics, ethics, and logic. Students can also pursue interdisciplinary studies.

3. Stanford University

GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $72,000.

Professional Outcomes: Stanford graduates often enter law, tech, and consulting fields. They are appreciated for their logical reasoning and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Stanford’s philosophy program is known for its focus on ethics, political philosophy, and cognitive science. Students can participate in research projects.

4. University of Chicago

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1490
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often work in academia, publishing, law, and business. They are known for their strong analytical and writing skills.

Academic Highlights: The University of Chicago offers a rigorous philosophy program with a focus on analytic philosophy, ethics, and political theory. Students engage in critical discussions.

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5. Yale University

GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $70,000.

Professional Outcomes: Yale philosophy graduates often work in law, education, business, and public service. They are respected for their logical reasoning and ethical judgment.

Academic Highlights: Yale offers a wide range of courses in philosophy, including ethics, political philosophy, and the history of philosophy. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

6. Columbia University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $68,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often pursue careers in law, journalism, academia, and business. They are valued for their analytical and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Columbia’s philosophy program includes courses in ethics, logic, and metaphysics. Students can also study philosophy in the context of literature and the arts.

7. University of California, Berkeley

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1470
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: Berkeley philosophy graduates work in law, education, public policy, and business. They are known for their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Academic Highlights: UC Berkeley offers a diverse philosophy program with strengths in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of mind. Students can participate in research and internships.

8. New York University

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: NYU graduates often enter fields such as law, media, publishing, and academia. They are valued for their reasoning and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: NYU’s philosophy program is known for its focus on ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of language. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies and research.

9. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $63,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often work in law, education, business, and government. They are respected for their analytical thinking and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: The University of Michigan offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. Students can also engage in research.

10. University of Pennsylvania

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $67,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often pursue careers in law, education, consulting, and public policy. They are known for their problem-solving and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: UPenn offers a wide range of philosophy courses, including ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

11. Duke University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1470
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $66,000.

Professional Outcomes: Duke philosophy graduates often work in law, business, education, and public service. They are valued for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Duke offers a comprehensive philosophy program with strengths in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Students can also engage in research and internships.

12. University of California, Los Angeles

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $64,000.

Professional Outcomes: UCLA graduates work in various fields, including law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their critical thinking and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: UCLA offers a diverse philosophy program with courses in ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of language. Students can also participate in research and internships.

13. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often work in law, education, business, and government. They are respected for their analytical thinking and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: UNC Chapel Hill offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. Students can also engage in research.

14. Cornell University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $67,000.

Professional Outcomes: Cornell philosophy graduates often pursue careers in law, education, consulting, and public policy. They are known for their problem-solving and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Cornell offers a wide range of philosophy courses, including ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

15. University of Notre Dame

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often work in law, education, business, and public service. They are valued for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Notre Dame offers a comprehensive philosophy program with strengths in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Students can also engage in research and internships.

16. Brown University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1460
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: Brown philosophy graduates often work in law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their logical reasoning and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Brown offers a wide range of courses in philosophy, including ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of mind. Students can also engage in interdisciplinary studies.

17. Georgetown University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $64,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often pursue careers in law, government, education, and business. They are respected for their analytical thinking and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Georgetown offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

18. Northwestern University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $66,000.

Professional Outcomes: Northwestern graduates often work in law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their critical thinking and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Northwestern offers a diverse philosophy program with courses in ethics, logic, and metaphysics. Students can participate in research and interdisciplinary studies.

19. University of Virginia

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $63,000.

Professional Outcomes: UVA graduates often work in law, business, education, and government. They are respected for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: UVA offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, epistemology, and political philosophy. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies and research.

20. Boston College

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 27%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $62,000.

Professional Outcomes: Boston College graduates often work in law, education, business, and public service. They are known for their critical thinking and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Boston College offers a diverse philosophy program with strengths in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. Students can also engage in research and internships.

21. Johns Hopkins University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1470
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $66,000.

Professional Outcomes: Johns Hopkins philosophy graduates often work in law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their logical reasoning and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Johns Hopkins offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

22. University of Southern California

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1460
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: USC graduates work in various fields, including law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their critical thinking and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: USC offers a diverse philosophy program with courses in ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of language. Students can also participate in research and internships.

23. Rice University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1470
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: Rice philosophy graduates often work in law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their logical reasoning and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Rice offers a wide range of courses in philosophy, including ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

24. Emory University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1460
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $64,000.

Professional Outcomes: Emory graduates often work in law, education, business, and public service. They are respected for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Emory offers a comprehensive philosophy program with strengths in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of mind. Students can also engage in research and internships.

25. University of California, San Diego

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 31%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $63,000.

Professional Outcomes: UC San Diego graduates often work in law, business, education, and government. They are known for their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Academic Highlights: UC San Diego offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

26. Carnegie Mellon University

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $66,000.

Professional Outcomes: Carnegie Mellon graduates often work in law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their logical reasoning and communication skills.

Academic Highlights: Carnegie Mellon offers a diverse philosophy program with strengths in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of mind. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

27. Washington University in St. Louis

GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1470
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $65,000.

Professional Outcomes: Washington University graduates often work in law, business, education, and public service. They are respected for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Washington University offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Students can also engage in research and internships.

28. University of Texas at Austin

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $63,000.

Professional Outcomes: UT Austin graduates often work in law, business, education, and public policy. They are known for their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Academic Highlights: UT Austin offers a wide range of courses in philosophy, including ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies.

29. Vanderbilt University

Professional Outcomes: Vanderbilt graduates often work in law, business, education, and public service. They are respected for their analytical skills and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: Vanderbilt offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Students can also engage in research and internships.

30. University of Wisconsin-Madison

GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, SAT/ACT scores, essays, recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary for graduates is $62,000.

Professional Outcomes: Graduates often work in law, education, business, and government. They are respected for their analytical thinking and ethical reasoning.

Academic Highlights: The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a strong philosophy program with courses in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science. Students can engage in interdisciplinary studies and research.

Philosophy Rankings – Conclusion

These 30 Best Colleges for Philosophy offer excellent programs in philosophy. They provide strong academic training, diverse courses, and opportunities for research. Students graduate with valuable skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning. These skills are useful in many careers, including law, business, education, and public policy. When choosing a college for philosophy, consider factors like course offerings, faculty expertise, and campus resources. This will help you find the best fit for your educational and career goals. Explore these colleges, visit campuses, and talk to current students and professors to learn more about their programs and opportunities.