HUMANITIES
+2.0%Liberal Arts
A broad foundation across writing, history, social science, and the arts, a flexible entry point into graduate school, business, or public service.
HUMANITIES
Philosophy & Religion
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Philosophy & Religion
Wondering whether Philosophy & Religion is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what Natural Sciences Managers earn and how the role is projected to grow.
Logic, ethics, and critical argument. Philosophy majors score among the highest on law school entrance exams and excel in analytical careers. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $54,455, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,277 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 19,301 students complete a degree in this area every year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $29,861
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $54,455
- Colleges Offering
- 1,277
- Graduates / Year
- 19,301
- Specializations
- 4
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $25,224
Is a Philosophy & Religion Degree Right for You?
$54,455
Median earnings · 4yr
+8.2%
10yr job growth
4
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~4.1
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
At median 4-year earnings of $54,455 and an estimated $100,896 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.1 years. Compare your specific program carefully.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Philosophy & Religion Majors Earn?
Pay for Philosophy & Religion graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $29,861 one year after graduation, rising to $54,455 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,277 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$29,861
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$54,455
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$53,127
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Philosophy & Religion specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $54,455/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $41,390/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$41,390
Lowest
$54,455
Median
$54,455
Highest
What Can You Do With a Philosophy & Religion Degree?
Career Paths for Philosophy & Religion Graduates
Studying Philosophy & Religion does not lock you into one job title. It opens 4 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Natural Sciences Managers pays the most among them at a median $167,220 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.
Another common path leads to what Cultural Studies Professors typically earn and how the field is trending.
Natural Sciences Managers
Bachelor's degree
$167,220
↗ +8.2% growth
Cultural Studies Professors
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,020
↗ +2.7% growth
Philosophy and Religion Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,260
↗ +2.0% growth
Mathematical Science Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,940
↗ +1.7% growth
Philosophy & Religion Specializations
Philosophy & Religion spans 4 specializations, and the choice among them will not swing your paycheck much: four-year earnings run from $41,390 to $54,455 across the whole group. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data. Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for a Philosophy program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Philosophy & Religion
These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Philosophy & Religion, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Liberty University.
1
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99%
Net price/yr
$29,357
Earnings 10yr
$44,813
Grad rate
34%
2
Yeshiva University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
55.6%
Net price/yr
$49,965
Earnings 10yr
$71,353
Grad rate
49%
3
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
5.4%
Net price/yr
$28,699
Earnings 10yr
$111,371
Grad rate
84%
4
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz
Brooklyn, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
87.4%
Net price/yr
$21,437
Earnings 10yr
$35,023
Grad rate
26%
5
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
Acceptance
33%
Net price/yr
$16,109
Earnings 10yr
$74,915
Grad rate
65%
6
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
4%
Net price/yr
$21,590
Earnings 10yr
$102,491
Grad rate
79%
7
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Acceptance
9%
Net price/yr
$12,548
Earnings 10yr
$82,511
Grad rate
82%
8
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
16.4%
Net price/yr
$41,704
Earnings 10yr
$103,937
Grad rate
93%
9
Nelson University
Waxahachie, TX · Nonprofit
Acceptance
89%
Net price/yr
$21,662
Earnings 10yr
$46,238
Grad rate
39%
10
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
Acceptance
11%
Net price/yr
$13,481
Earnings 10yr
$92,446
Grad rate
74%
11
New York University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.2%
Net price/yr
$37,050
Earnings 10yr
$82,509
Grad rate
76%
12
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public
Acceptance
45.2%
Net price/yr
$17,354
Earnings 10yr
$73,792
Grad rate
75%
13
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA · Public
Acceptance
16.8%
Net price/yr
$21,565
Earnings 10yr
$86,863
Grad rate
90%
14
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
3.7%
Net price/yr
$19,066
Earnings 10yr
$101,817
Grad rate
87%
15
Emory University
Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
10.7%
Net price/yr
$22,585
Earnings 10yr
$80,137
Grad rate
90%
16
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.8%
Net price/yr
$32,740
Earnings 10yr
$92,498
Grad rate
88%
17
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · Public
Acceptance
39.2%
Net price/yr
$14,091
Earnings 10yr
$78,466
Grad rate
73%
18
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public
Acceptance
41.8%
Net price/yr
$14,741
Earnings 10yr
$80,838
Grad rate
81%
19
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
59.3%
Net price/yr
$44,338
Earnings 10yr
$85,569
Grad rate
78%
20
Boston University
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
11.1%
Net price/yr
$24,402
Earnings 10yr
$83,238
Grad rate
81%
Ranked by number of Philosophy & Religion graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Philosophy & Religion Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Philosophy & Religion degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if a Philosophy & Religion degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Philosophy & Religion Degree: Pros & Cons
Philosophy & Religion is a mixed case: real strengths, offset by real trade-offs, and neither side is large enough to settle the decision on its own. All 4 points below are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, and IPEDS graduate counts, with no editorial opinion added.
PROS
- Growing field Top career paths show up to +8.2% projected 10-year growth per BLS, including Natural Sciences Managers.
- Wide availability Offered at 1,277 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $29,861 at graduation to $54,455 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.
CONS
- Modest median earnings Four-year median of $54,455 lags behind many STEM and business fields, which can affect ROI at higher-cost programs.
Philosophy & Religion Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Philosophy & Religion graduates earn?
$54,455 a year four years after finishing the degree. That is the national median, so half of graduates earn more and half earn less, and specialization, institution, and region move the number a lot. Use the specializations table on this page to see which tracks pay above and below it. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Philosophy & Religion degree?
About $29,861 in the first year out, at the institutional level. That is an early number, not a ceiling, and it moves with employer, location, and which specialization within Philosophy & Religion you picked. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Philosophy & Religion degree?
More than one path, so the degree does not lock you into a single title. Natural Sciences Managers pays the most among related roles, at a median $167,220 a year nationally, but it is one option among several. See the Career Paths section on this page for the full list with employment levels and 10-year growth projections. Source: BLS.
How many colleges offer Philosophy & Religion?
1,277 colleges and universities in the United States, so location is rarely the limiting factor. Options run from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs, so the harder choice is which type of school fits, not whether one is nearby. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Philosophy & Religion degree worth it?
For most students, yes, though the margin depends on which specialization and school you pick. Median 4-year earnings run $54,455 against an average net price of roughly $25,224 a year across institutions that offer this major, and high-earning specializations widen that gap considerably. Compare your specific program before assuming the average applies to you.
How long does it take to earn a Philosophy & Religion degree?
Four years for a bachelor's degree in Philosophy & Religion at the normal full-time pace, or two years for an associate version at a community college. Part-time or online study stretches that timeline out, and transfer credits can shorten it.
What skills do employers look for in Philosophy & Religion graduates?
Employers hiring Philosophy & Religion graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, research, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Philosophy & Religion graduates?
Outlook is moderate: related occupations project an average of +3.7% growth over the next decade. Natural Sciences Managers leads the group at +8.2%. Demand still swings by specialization, employer sector, and region, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Source: BLS.
Related Findings
-
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
- Major earnings
- Highest paying majors
- Job growth
- STEM
- Field of study
-
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
- Engineering tech
- Engineering
- Program earnings
- Applied degree
- Technician careers
-
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
- STEM earnings
- Engineering pay
- Computer science
- Program earnings
- Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Colleges
Discover 3,811 verified US colleges and universities. Compare admissions, costs, outcomes, and earnings across every accredited institution nationwide.
Majors
Explore 38 fields of study spanning STEM, health, business, and the humanities. See earnings, top programs, and demand.
Programs
Browse 375 specific degree programs. See completion counts, earnings outcomes, and the colleges awarding the most graduates each year.
Careers
Look up 395 BLS occupations. Get median wages, growth projections, education requirements, and the majors leading to each career.