100 Best colleges for Philosophy in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 182M citations received by 5.27M academic papers made by 1,575 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: $17,998

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Philosophy

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Philosophy

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Philosophy

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Philosophy

#8 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

8. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Philosophy

#10 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

9. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Philosophy

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

10. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Philosophy

#12 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Philosophy

#13 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Philosophy

#14 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

13. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Philosophy

#15 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

14. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Philosophy

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Philosophy

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Philosophy

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

17. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Philosophy

#19 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Philosophy

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

19. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Philosophy

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

20. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Philosophy

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

21. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Philosophy

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Philosophy

#25 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

23. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Philosophy

#26 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Philosophy

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Philosophy

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Philosophy

#30 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

27. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Philosophy

#31 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

28. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Philosophy

#32 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Philosophy

#33 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

30. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Philosophy

#34 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

31. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Philosophy

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

32. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Philosophy

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

33. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Philosophy

#38 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

34. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Philosophy

#39 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

35. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Philosophy

#41 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Philosophy

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

37. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Philosophy

#44 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

38. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Philosophy

#45 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

39. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Philosophy

#46 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

40. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Philosophy

#47 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Philosophy

#48 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#49 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Philosophy

#50 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

44. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Philosophy

#52 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

45. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Philosophy

#53 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

46. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Philosophy

#54 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

47. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#57 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

48. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Philosophy

#59 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

49. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Philosophy

#60 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

50. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#62 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

51. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Philosophy

#63 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

52. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Philosophy

#64 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

53. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Philosophy

#65 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Philosophy

#66 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Philosophy

#67 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

56. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Philosophy

#68 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

57. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Philosophy

#69 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

58. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Philosophy

#71 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

59. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Philosophy

#72 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

60. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Philosophy

#73 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

61. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Philosophy

#74 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

62. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Philosophy

#75 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

63. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Philosophy

#76 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

64. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Philosophy

#79 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

65. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Philosophy

#80 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

66. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Philosophy

#81 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

67. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Philosophy

#82 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

68. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Philosophy

#83 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

69. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Philosophy

#84 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

70. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Philosophy

#85 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

71. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Philosophy

#86 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

72. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Philosophy

#87 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Philosophy

#88 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Philosophy

#89 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

75. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Philosophy

#90 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

76. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Philosophy

#91 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Philosophy

#92 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

78. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Philosophy

#93 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

79. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Philosophy

#94 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

80. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Philosophy

#95 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

81. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Philosophy

#96 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

82. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Philosophy

#97 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

83. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Philosophy

#98 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

84. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Philosophy

#99 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

85. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#100 in North America

#321 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

86. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#101 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

87. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Philosophy

#102 in North America

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

88. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#103 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

89. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Philosophy

#104 in North America

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

90. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#105 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

91. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Philosophy

#106 in North America

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

92. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Philosophy

#107 in North America

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

93. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Philosophy

#108 in North America

#345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

94. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Philosophy

#110 in North America

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Philosophy

#111 in North America

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#113 in North America

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

97. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Philosophy

#116 in North America

#385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#117 in North America

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#119 in North America

#406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

100. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Philosophy

#120 in North America

#411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

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.