100 Best colleges for Philosophy in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 192M citations received by 5.38M academic papers made by 1,581 universities in the United States 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

California | Stanford

For Philosophy

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Philosophy

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Philosophy

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Philosophy

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Philosophy

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

8. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Philosophy

#10 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

9. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Philosophy

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

10. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Philosophy

#12 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Philosophy

#13 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Philosophy

#14 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

13. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Philosophy

#15 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

14. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Philosophy

#16 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Philosophy

#17 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Philosophy

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

17. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Philosophy

#19 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Philosophy

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

19. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Philosophy

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

20. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Philosophy

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

21. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Philosophy

#24 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Philosophy

#25 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

23. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Philosophy

#26 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Philosophy

#27 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Philosophy

#28 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Philosophy

#30 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Philosophy

#31 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

28. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Philosophy

#32 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

29. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Philosophy

#33 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

30. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Philosophy

#34 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

31. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Philosophy

#35 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

32. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Philosophy

#37 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

33. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Philosophy

#38 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

34. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Philosophy

#39 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

35. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Philosophy

#41 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Philosophy

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

37. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Philosophy

#44 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

38. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Philosophy

#45 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

39. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Philosophy

#46 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

40. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Philosophy

#47 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Philosophy

#48 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#49 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Philosophy

#50 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

44. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Philosophy

#52 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

45. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Philosophy

#53 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

46. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Philosophy

#54 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

47. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#57 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

48. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Philosophy

#59 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

49. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#61 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

50. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Philosophy

#62 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

51. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Philosophy

#63 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

52. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Philosophy

#64 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

53. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Philosophy

#65 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Philosophy

#66 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Philosophy

#67 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

56. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Philosophy

#68 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

57. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Philosophy

#69 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

58. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Philosophy

#71 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Philosophy

#72 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

60. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Philosophy

#73 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

61. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Philosophy

#74 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Philosophy

#76 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Philosophy

#77 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

64. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Philosophy

#79 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

65. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Philosophy

#80 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

66. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Philosophy

#81 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

67. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Philosophy

#82 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

68. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Philosophy

#83 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

69. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Philosophy

#84 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

70. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Philosophy

#85 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

71. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Philosophy

#86 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

72. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Philosophy

#87 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

73. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Philosophy

#88 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

74. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Philosophy

#89 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

75. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Philosophy

#90 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

76. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Philosophy

#91 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Philosophy

#92 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

78. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Philosophy

#93 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

79. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Philosophy

#94 in North America

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

80. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Philosophy

#95 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

81. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Philosophy

#96 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

82. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Philosophy

#97 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

83. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Philosophy

#98 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Philosophy

#99 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

85. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#100 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

86. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#101 in North America

#327 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

87. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#102 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

88. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Philosophy

#103 in North America

#332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

89. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Philosophy

#104 in North America

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

90. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#105 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

91. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Philosophy

#106 in North America

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Philosophy

#107 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

93. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Philosophy

#108 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

94. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Philosophy

#110 in North America

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

95. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Philosophy

#111 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

96. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#114 in North America

#377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

97. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Philosophy

#116 in North America

#382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#117 in North America

#393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

99. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Philosophy

#118 in North America

#411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

100. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#119 in North America

#414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

The best cities to study Philosophy in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Berkeley, Cambridge, and Ann Arbor.