Best Philosophy Schools in California

California has 20 colleges offering Philosophy programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 434 recent graduates. Graduates earn $29,933 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $29,380.

Schools in CA

$29,933

CA Avg. Earnings

$29,380

National Avg.

147

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Philosophy in California

Public Schools (18)

$29,158

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (2)

$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

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 29.8%

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$31,314

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,487

Graduates: 57

Acceptance: 27.8%

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $21,639

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 93.6%

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$20,824

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,934

Graduates: 70

Acceptance: 11.7%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$29,322

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 8.7%

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$28,960

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,697

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 41.6%

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$46,456

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 34.4%

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,800

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 91.9%

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,506

Graduates: 34

Acceptance: 10.0%

#10

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$27,261

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,851

Graduates: 29

Acceptance: 63.3%

#11

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$24,421

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,735

Graduates: 57

Acceptance: 62.5%

#12

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$33,446

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,583

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 93.2%

#14

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$26,739

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,453

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 86.7%

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$31,133

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,537

Graduates: 40

Acceptance: 96.2%

#16

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,024

Graduates: 16

Acceptance: 96.4%

#17

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$22,192

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 98.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Philosophy in California?

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks #1 for Philosophy in California with median graduate earnings of N/A within two years of graduation. There are 20 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 2% above the national average of $29,380 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 58.2%.

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 18 public and 2 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Philosophy in Other States

New York Pennsylvania Massachusetts Texas Illinois Wisconsin Ohio Minnesota Florida Virginia New Jersey Washington View All →

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.