100 Best colleges for Philosophy in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 128M citations received by 4.63M academic papers made by 1,545 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: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Philosophy

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Philosophy

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

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

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Philosophy

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Philosophy

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

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

8. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Philosophy

#9 in North America

#14 in the World

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

9. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Philosophy

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Philosophy

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

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

11. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Philosophy

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

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

12. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Philosophy

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

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

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Philosophy

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Philosophy

#15 in North America

#22 in the World

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

15. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Philosophy

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Philosophy

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

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

17. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Philosophy

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

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

18. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Philosophy

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

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

19. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Philosophy

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

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

20. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Philosophy

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

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

21. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Philosophy

#24 in North America

#36 in the World

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

22. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Philosophy

#25 in North America

#37 in the World

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

23. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Philosophy

#26 in North America

#38 in the World

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

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Philosophy

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

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

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Philosophy

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

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

26. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Philosophy

#30 in North America

#45 in the World

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

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Philosophy

#31 in North America

#48 in the World

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

28. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Philosophy

#32 in North America

#50 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Philosophy

#33 in North America

#52 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Philosophy

#34 in North America

#57 in the World

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

31. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Philosophy

#35 in North America

#59 in the World

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

32. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Philosophy

#36 in North America

#61 in the World

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

33. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Philosophy

#37 in North America

#62 in the World

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

34. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#38 in North America

#63 in the World

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

35. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Philosophy

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

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

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Philosophy

#42 in North America

#69 in the World

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

37. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Philosophy

#44 in North America

#82 in the World

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

38. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Philosophy

#45 in North America

#83 in the World

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

39. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Philosophy

#46 in North America

#84 in the World

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

40. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Philosophy

#47 in North America

#85 in the World

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

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Philosophy

#48 in North America

#94 in the World

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

42. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Philosophy

#49 in North America

#98 in the World

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

43. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Philosophy

#50 in North America

#104 in the World

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

44. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Philosophy

#51 in North America

#105 in the World

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

45. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#53 in North America

#109 in the World

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

46. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Philosophy

#54 in North America

#115 in the World

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

47. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Philosophy

#57 in North America

#121 in the World

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

48. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Philosophy

#58 in North America

#123 in the World

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

49. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#60 in North America

#139 in the World

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

50. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Philosophy

#61 in North America

#142 in the World

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

51. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Philosophy

#62 in North America

#147 in the World

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

52. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Philosophy

#63 in North America

#149 in the World

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

53. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Philosophy

#64 in North America

#155 in the World

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

54. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Philosophy

#65 in North America

#156 in the World

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

55. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Philosophy

#68 in North America

#177 in the World

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

56. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Philosophy

#69 in North America

#179 in the World

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

57. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Philosophy

#70 in North America

#182 in the World

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

58. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Philosophy

#71 in North America

#183 in the World

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

59. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Philosophy

#72 in North America

#187 in the World

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

60. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Philosophy

#73 in North America

#188 in the World

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

61. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Philosophy

#74 in North America

#191 in the World

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

62. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Philosophy

#75 in North America

#192 in the World

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

63. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Philosophy

#76 in North America

#202 in the World

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

64. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Philosophy

#78 in North America

#208 in the World

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

65. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Philosophy

#79 in North America

#213 in the World

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

66. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Philosophy

#81 in North America

#218 in the World

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

67. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Philosophy

#82 in North America

#220 in the World

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

68. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Philosophy

#83 in North America

#223 in the World

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

69. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Philosophy

#84 in North America

#224 in the World

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

70. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Philosophy

#85 in North America

#226 in the World

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

71. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Philosophy

#86 in North America

#235 in the World

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

72. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Philosophy

#87 in North America

#236 in the World

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

73. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Philosophy

#88 in North America

#239 in the World

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

74. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Philosophy

#89 in North America

#245 in the World

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

75. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Philosophy

#90 in North America

#249 in the World

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

76. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Philosophy

#91 in North America

#251 in the World

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

77. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Philosophy

#92 in North America

#258 in the World

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

78. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Philosophy

#93 in North America

#259 in the World

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

79. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Philosophy

#94 in North America

#263 in the World

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

80. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Philosophy

#95 in North America

#266 in the World

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

81. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Philosophy

#96 in North America

#267 in the World

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

82. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Philosophy

#97 in North America

#272 in the World

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

83. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Philosophy

#98 in North America

#282 in the World

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

84. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Philosophy

#99 in North America

#292 in the World

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

85. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Philosophy

#100 in North America

#295 in the World

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

86. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#101 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

87. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Philosophy

#102 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Philosophy

#103 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

89. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Philosophy

#104 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

90. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Philosophy

#105 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

91. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Philosophy

#106 in North America

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

92. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Philosophy

#107 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Philosophy

#108 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Philosophy

#109 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

95. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#110 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

96. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Philosophy

#112 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

97. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Philosophy

#114 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#115 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Philosophy

#116 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

100. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Philosophy

#118 in North America

#373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

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.