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Best Philosophy Schools in California

California has 16 colleges offering Philosophy programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 355 recent graduates. Graduates earn $29,933 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $29,504.

School choice matters significantly: San Diego State University graduates earn $46,456 while University of California-Berkeley graduates earn $20,824 — a $25,632 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

16
Schools in CA
$29,933
CA Avg. Earnings
$29,504
National Avg.
120
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Philosophy in California

Public Schools (15)
$29,158
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (1)
$41,565
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $12,407 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Philosophy Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$46,456
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 34.4%
#2
U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 50.8%
#3
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$33,446
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $29,583
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 93.2%
#4
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$31,314
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $25,487
Graduates: 57
Acceptance: 27.8%
#5
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,537
Graduates: 40
Acceptance: 96.2%
#6
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 93.7%
#7
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$30,228
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 47.1%
#8
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,024
Graduates: 16
Acceptance: 96.4%
#9
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$29,322
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.7%
#10
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $34,697
Graduates: 32
Acceptance: 41.6%
#11
U

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$27,261
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,851
Graduates: 29
Acceptance: 63.3%
#12
C

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $26,453
Graduates: 30
Acceptance: 86.7%
#13
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$24,615
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 25.6%
#14
U

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$24,421
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $28,735
Graduates: 57
Acceptance: 62.5%
#15
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$22,192
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 98.8%
#16
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$20,824
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $23,934
Graduates: 70
Acceptance: 11.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Philosophy in California?
San Diego State University ranks #1 for Philosophy in California with median graduate earnings of $46,456 within two years of graduation. There are 16 schools offering Philosophy programs in the state.
How much do Philosophy graduates earn in California?
Philosophy graduates in California earn an average of $29,933 within two years of graduation. This is 1% above the national average of $29,504 for this major.
What is the hardest Philosophy school to get into in California?
University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Philosophy program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Philosophy programs in the state is 58.7%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Philosophy in California?
In California, private Philosophy programs produce average earnings of $41,565 vs $29,158 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 15 public and 1 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Engineering, General $76,184 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Manufacturing Engineering $73,841 Engineering-Related Fields $73,096 Computer Science $72,889
All colleges in California →

Philosophy in Other States

New York Massachusetts Texas Illinois Pennsylvania Ohio Wisconsin Minnesota Washington Florida Colorado Arizona View All →

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.