Best Universities for Philosophy in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 144M citations received by 5.34M academic papers made by 1,634 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

United States | California

For Philosophy

#1 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Philosophy

#2 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Philosophy

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

4. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#1 in Canada

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Philosophy

#4 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Philosophy

#5 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

7. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#6 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

8. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Philosophy

#7 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

9. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Philosophy

#8 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

10. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#9 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Philosophy

#10 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

12. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Philosophy

#11 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

13. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Philosophy

#12 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Philosophy

#13 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

15. New York University

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#14 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

16. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Philosophy

#15 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

17. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Philosophy

#2 in Canada

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

18. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Philosophy

#16 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

19. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Philosophy

#17 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

20. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Philosophy

#18 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

21. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Philosophy

#19 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

22. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Philosophy

#3 in Canada

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

23. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Philosophy

#20 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

24. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Philosophy

#21 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

25. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Philosophy

#22 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

26. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Philosophy

#23 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

27. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Philosophy

#24 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

28. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Philosophy

#25 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

29. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Philosophy

#4 in Canada

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

30. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Philosophy

#26 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

31. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Philosophy

#27 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

32. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Philosophy

#28 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Philosophy

#29 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

34. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Philosophy

#30 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

35. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Philosophy

#31 in the United States

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Philosophy

#32 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

37. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Philosophy

#33 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Philosophy

#34 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

39. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Philosophy

#5 in Canada

#64 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

40. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Philosophy

#35 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

41. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#6 in Canada

#67 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

42. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Philosophy

#36 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

43. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Philosophy

#7 in Canada

#78 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

44. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Philosophy

#37 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

45. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Philosophy

#38 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Philosophy

#39 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

47. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Philosophy

#40 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

48. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Philosophy

#41 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

49. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Philosophy

#42 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

50. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Philosophy

#43 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

51. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Philosophy

#44 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

52. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#8 in Canada

#107 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

53. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Philosophy

#45 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

54. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#46 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

55. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#9 in Canada

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

56. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#10 in Canada

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Philosophy

#47 in the United States

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

58. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Philosophy

#48 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

59. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Philosophy

#11 in Canada

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

60. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Philosophy

#49 in the United States

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

61. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Philosophy

#50 in the United States

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

62. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Philosophy

#51 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Philosophy

#52 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

64. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Philosophy

#53 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

65. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Philosophy

#54 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

66. University of Quebec in Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Philosophy

#12 in Canada

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1969

67. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#13 in Canada

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

68. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Philosophy

#55 in the United States

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

69. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Philosophy

#56 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

70. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Philosophy

#57 in the United States

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

71. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Philosophy

#58 in the United States

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

72. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#59 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

73. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Philosophy

#60 in the United States

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

74. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Philosophy

#61 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

75. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Philosophy

#62 in the United States

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

76. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Philosophy

#63 in the United States

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

77. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Philosophy

#14 in Canada

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

78. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#64 in the United States

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

79. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Philosophy

#65 in the United States

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

80. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Philosophy

#15 in Canada

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

81. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Philosophy

#66 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

82. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Philosophy

#67 in the United States

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

83. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Philosophy

#68 in the United States

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

84. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Philosophy

#69 in the United States

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

85. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Philosophy

#70 in the United States

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

86. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Philosophy

#71 in the United States

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

87. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Philosophy

#72 in the United States

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

88. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Philosophy

#73 in the United States

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

89. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Philosophy

#74 in the United States

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

90. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Philosophy

#75 in the United States

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Philosophy

#76 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Philosophy

#77 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Philosophy

#78 in the United States

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

94. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Philosophy

#79 in the United States

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

95. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Philosophy

#80 in the United States

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

96. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Philosophy

#81 in the United States

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Philosophy

#82 in the United States

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

98. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Philosophy

#83 in the United States

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

99. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Philosophy

#84 in the United States

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

100. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Philosophy

#85 in the United States

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America

Anthropology1028

Archaeology1392

Broadcast Journalism318

Classics and Ancient History792

Communications and Public Relations860

Criminology and Criminal Justice557

Early Childhood Education431

Education Majors1108

Forensic Science242

Gender Studies752

Human Rights Law299

Intellectual Property and Patent Law283

International Law286

International Relations and Diplomacy326

Journalism and Digital Media377

Law Enforcement395

Library and Information science966

Linguistics1330

Media Studies596

Military science480

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution318

Occupational Safety and Health340

Political Economy437

Political Science1686

Public Policy / Administration508

Radio and Television broadcasting317

Special Education395

Sports / Exercise science319

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies1150

Urban and Regional planning220