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• Step 1: Choose field
• Step 2: Set priorities
• Step 3: Your ranking of Philosophy programs

• Choosing a program
• Your application
• Taking the GRE
• Funding / Scholarships
• Other rankings
• Should you go?
• Graduate assistantships

The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.

How to Read Your Ranking

• Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
• Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
• Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
• A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
• Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
• Data sources can be found below.

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Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Philosophy, Princeton University	52.9	6.2	89%	4.6	4.9	7.0	16	2.1	11%	745	735
2.	Philosophy, University of Notre Dame	41.0	6.9	74%	3.6	3.7	7.2	33	2.0	32%	700	685
3.	Philosophy, Stanford University	34.8	5.7	76%	4.0	4.2	3.6	18	2.9	12%	735	720
4.	Philosophy, Cornell University	32.2	5.9	100%	4.1	4.1	2.0	15	2.1	27%	710	675
5.	Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	31.7	7.9	78%	4.4	4.7	3.6	30	2.0	49%	625	610
6.	Philosophy, University of California-Berkeley	30.8	7.7	92%	3.7	4.7	5.2	16	2.1	25%	685	645
7.	Philosophy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	29.1	7.1	93%	3.4	3.8	5.8	28	2.1	61%	615	580
8.	Philosophy, Harvard University	28.7	7.3	78%	3.8	4.7	3.4	14	3.1	9%	745	745
9.	Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	26.5	5.0	64%	3.9	4.0	2.8	11	2.6	14%	770	730
10.	Philosophy, University of Chicago	24.9	8.2	82%	3.4	3.9	5.6	20	3.0	40%	715	725
11.	Philosophy, University of California-Los Angeles	24.2	8.5	75%	4.0	4.4	3.2	25	1.8	23%	665	630
12.	Philosophy, Ohio State University-Main Campus	21.2	7.3	94%	3.1	3.2	3.4	36	1.5	73%	580	560
13.	Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	21.1	7.2	75%	3.4	3.7	5.4	20	2.4	36%	650	640
14.	Philosophy, University of Arizona	20.6	6.2	92%	3.7	4.0	4.4	19	1.9	88%	565	560
15.	Philosophy, Brown University	19.4	6.7	67%	3.6	3.8	3.4	13	2.0	15%	725	710
16.	Philosophy, The University of Texas at Austin	18.9	8.2	57%	3.0	3.2	6.2	37	1.6	51%	630	605
17.	Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania	16.7	6.9	68%	3.0	3.2	5.2	15	2.4	21%	725	705
18.	Philosophy, CUNY Graduate School and University Center	15.9	8.5	67%	2.8	3.5	6.4	32	3.4	54%*	633*	616*
19.	Philosophy, Boston University	15.7	7.3	57%	2.9	3.1	8.2	22	2.6	55%	655	645
20.	Philosophy, University of California-San Diego	14.5	7.2	77%	3.5	3.8	3.0	18	2.2	39%	655	605
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Philosophy, Northwestern University	13.7	7.0	67%	3.0	3.2	2.8	21	1.7	30%	715	695
22.	Philosophy, Columbia University in the City of New York	13.1	7.7	64%	2.9	3.2	5.6	17	4.4	13%	725	715
23.	Philosophy, Washington University in St Louis	11.7	5.5	84%	2.5	2.4	2.4	14	2.6	19%	730	710
24.	Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Madison	10.3	7.7	51%	3.1	3.3	7.2	26	4.8	71%	650	615
25.	Philosophy, Emory University	9.7	7.1	58%	3.0	2.5	7.4	14	3.3	39%	700	680
26.	Philosophy, The New School	9.6	8.7	49%	2.8*	2.8*	13.6	17*	2.8*	51%	560	565
27.	Philosophy, Duke University	7.7	6.0	71%	2.6	2.4	3.6	11	1.9	22%	725	705
28.	Philosophy, University of Southern California	7.2	5.2	66%*	2.7	2.9	2.2	13	2.3	27%	690	665
29.	Philosophy, Vanderbilt University	7.0	6.3	56%	3.0	2.6	5.2	15	3.9	35%	695	675
30.	Philosophy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	6.8	7.2	71%	2.8	2.8	4.0	22	2.1	68%	675	615
31.	Philosophy, Georgetown University	6.6	9.3	75%	2.8	2.5	3.0	26	1.9	21%	695	695
32.	Philosophy, University of Memphis	5.7	4.9	86%	2.8*	2.8*	3.4	17*	2.8*	71%	538	530
33.	Philosophy, University of Rochester	5.6	5.1	66%*	3.0	3.0	1.6	13	2.4	46%	670	650
34.	Philosophy, University of Maryland-College Park	5.5	5.9	64%	2.7	2.9	1.6	22	1.2	49%	650	625
35.	Philosophy, SUNY at Binghamton	5.2	6.3	45%	2.8*	2.8*	6.4	17*	2.8*	43%	650	615
36.	Philosophy, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	4.8	7.9	79%	2.8*	2.8*	4.4	17*	2.8*	57%	680	640
37.	Philosophy, Syracuse University	3.5	7.8	71%	3.5	3.3	2.2	20	2.3	65%	620	595
38.	Philosophy, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	3.1	8.2	71%	3.0	3.0	3.8	22	1.9	70%	630	600
39.	Philosophy, University of Colorado at Boulder	2.5	6.9	72%	2.8*	2.8*	5.8	17*	2.8*	88%	600	580
40.	Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University	2.1	9.7	92%	3.0	3.0	4.8	9	4.2	35%	705	680
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Philosophy, Boston College	0.8	7.7	61%	2.4	2.1	4.8	22	3.3	31%	680	655
41.	Philosophy, Rice University	0.8	7.7	67%	2.8	2.7	2.6	11	1.6	25%	725	710
43.	Philosophy, Purdue University-Main Campus	0.0	6.3	59%	2.8*	2.8*	5.8	17*	2.8*	85%	590	555
43.	Philosophy, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	0.0	7.7	86%	3.4	3.4	2.8	15	4.1	80%	575	565
45.	Philosophy, University of Illinois at Chicago	-0.7	7.4	63%	3.3	3.5	2.2	17	2.2	58%	605	570
46.	Philosophy, Marquette University	-1.2	6.7	50%	2.8*	2.8*	5.8	17*	2.8*	70%	600	595
47.	Philosophy, Villanova University	-1.5	6.0	50%*	2.8*	2.8*	3.0	17*	2.8*	51%	645	620
48.	Philosophy, Saint Louis University-Main Campus	-1.6	6.2	75%	2.5	1.8	3.8	17	0.5	76%	610	600
49.	Philosophy, Indiana University-Bloomington	-2.0	6.9	67%	3.1	3.1	4.0	17	3.0	85%	560	550
50.	Philosophy, New York University	-2.1	7.2*	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.2	17*	2.8*	37%	665	665
51.	Philosophy, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary	-2.3	7.2*	68%*	2.8*	2.8*	2.6	17*	2.8*	54%*	633*	616*
52.	Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	-2.5	6.2	66%	2.2	2.1	6.2	14	2.7	58%	610	580
53.	Philosophy, Chicago Theological Seminary	-2.8	7.2*	68%*	2.8*	2.8*	2.4	17*	2.8*	54%*	633*	616*
54.	Philosophy, University of Missouri-Columbia	-3.1	5.7	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	2.0	17*	2.8*	83%	595	600
55.	Philosophy, University of California-Irvine	-3.2	7.0	59%	3.0	3.3	3.4	12	2.7	52%	620	580
56.	Philosophy, Stony Brook University	-3.4	6.7	52%	2.4	2.3	4.0	24	2.3	51%	610	570
57.	Philosophy, Trinity College of the Bible and Trinity Theological Seminary	-4.2	7.2*	68%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.2	17*	2.8*	36%	633*	616*
58.	Philosophy, SUNY at Albany	-4.3	5.7	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.4	17*	2.8*	56%	575	555
59.	Philosophy, SUNY at Buffalo	-4.5	7.0	56%	2.2	2.2	6.4	19	2.8	56%	595	565
60.	Philosophy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-4.7	6.9	69%	2.8*	2.8*	2.2	17*	2.8*	86%	633*	616*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Philosophy, University of Connecticut	-5.3	8.2	82%	2.8*	2.8*	2.0	17*	2.8*	51%	600	585
62.	Philosophy, Michigan State University	-6.2	6.8	67%	2.2	1.9	3.2	25	1.0	76%	585	555
62.	Philosophy, University of South Florida	-6.2	6.9	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.6	17*	2.8*	28%	565	555
64.	Philosophy, University of Florida	-6.3	7.2*	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.2	17*	2.8*	57%	640	620
65.	Philosophy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-6.4	6.6	64%	2.8*	2.8*	2.4	17*	2.8*	67%	580	570
66.	Philosophy, University of Utah	-6.5	6.9	71%	2.8*	2.8*	1.2	17*	2.8*	86%	633*	616*
67.	Philosophy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-6.9	5.2	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.0	17*	2.8*	74%	535	540
68.	Philosophy, University of California-Davis	-8.7	7.9	70%	2.8*	2.8*	1.8	17*	2.8*	55%	615	565
69.	Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago	-9.3	8.0	40%	2.5	2.3	4.2	29	2.6	74%	585	590
70.	Philosophy, Yale University	-9.5	7.5	50%	1.9	1.9	2.6	14	2.4	10%	740	740
71.	Philosophy, DePaul University	-10.1	7.7	67%	2.8*	2.8*	2.6	17*	2.8*	69%	555	566
72.	Philosophy, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-10.7	5.7	45%*	2.4	2.4	1.8	11	3.1	38%	670	655
73.	Philosophy, Carnegie Mellon University	-11.3	7.2*	66%*	1.7	2.3	1.2	13	1.0	39%	720	660
74.	Philosophy, University of Dallas	-11.4	7.7	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.0	17*	2.8*	81%	595	640
75.	Philosophy, University of Arkansas Main Campus	-12.4	7.2*	66%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.2	17*	2.8*	87%	580	575
76.	Philosophy, University of California-Santa Barbara	-12.5	7.7	91%	2.0	2.5	2.4	11	4.0	53%	600	580
77.	Philosophy, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	-12.6	10.0	78%	2.8*	2.8*	2.6	17*	2.8*	67%	610	590
78.	Philosophy, University of California-Riverside	-13.2	8.0	67%	2.6	2.6	2.6	19	2.1	74%	565	510
79.	Philosophy, University of St Thomas	-13.4	7.2*	68%*	2.8*	2.8*	0.6	17*	2.8*	92%	580	585
80.	Philosophy, University of Miami	-15.1	7.9	67%	2.6	2.2	2.4	8	2.3	46%	640	620
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Philosophy, Fordham University	-16.4	6.8	63%	2.2	1.8	5.6	13	9.5	50%	590	600
82.	Philosophy, University of Kansas Main Campus	-17.6	8.2	38%	2.7	2.1	3.8	16	2.3	69%	633*	616*
83.	Philosophy, Temple University	-18.1	7.4	53%	2.4	2.3	4.0	14	3.3	63%	550	540
84.	Philosophy, University of Georgia	-18.2	7.2*	66%*	1.8	1.9	2.0	14	1.9	62%	615	610
85.	Philosophy, Tulane University of Louisiana	-19.3	6.5	45%	2.1	1.9	1.6	11	3.7	45%	680	670
86.	Philosophy, University of Iowa	-19.8	8.2	73%	2.7	2.2	2.2	11	4.0	84%	600	585
87.	Philosophy, Catholic University of America	-19.9	8.7	57%	2.6	2.2	4.6	15	4.4	82%	565	580
88.	Philosophy, Florida State University	-20.9	6.1	60%	1.9	2.0	2.0	10	2.8	62%	585	575
89.	Philosophy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	-23.2	7.2	55%*	2.4	2.1	2.0	10	3.3	75%	605	595
90.	Philosophy, Wayne State University	-26.5	8.2	14%*	2.8*	2.8*	1.0	17*	2.8*	63%	633*	616*
91.	Philosophy, The University of Tennessee	-29.1	7.7	69%	1.1	1.3	3.2	11	2.4	44%	555	555
92.	Philosophy, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-29.4	7.2*	66%*	2.0	1.6	0.8	10	1.7	77%	565	545
93.	Philosophy, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-30.9	8.2	53%	1.1	1.8	4.4	13	2.6	65%	570	535
94.	Philosophy, University of Kentucky	-33.3	7.7	36%*	1.7	1.6	2.2	16	1.7	79%	575	565
95.	Philosophy, Southern Illinois University Carbondale	-34.3	6.9	33%*	1.2	1.4	4.6	13	1.1	77%	520	520
96.	Philosophy, Duquesne University	-37.7	9.5	60%	1.7	1.3	5.2	9	6.0	80%	565	560
97.	Philosophy, University of Oregon	-38.7	7.5	40%	1.3	1.5	4.0	9	3.1	91%	560	555
98.	Philosophy, Claremont Graduate University	-50.5	9.7	73%	1.6	1.1	2.0	3	13.3	54%*	633*	616*

Unranked Philosophy Graduate Schools

Item Descriptions

Your Score

Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.

Years to Degree (Yrs)

Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -4. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Placement Rate (Job)

Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 4. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)

Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)

Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Math SAT Score (SAT-M)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Missing Values

Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.  Learn more

National Research Council

The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more

Survey of Earned Doctorates

The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more

Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science Foundation.  Learn more