2026 Best Philosophy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Philosophy graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 913 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Philosophy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Duke University to be the best Philosophy school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. About 97% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Duke University Philosophy students take on a median of $13,296 in debt. More on Duke University
A rank of #2 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top choices in the United States. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Graduates carry a median of $20,062 in student loans. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
You'll be in good company at Meredith College, which ranked #3 this year. More on Meredith College
A rank of #4 makes Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary one of the top choices in the United States. Get the full Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary report
Lynchburg College came in at #5 on this year's Philosophy ranking in the United States. More on Lynchburg College
California State Polytechnic University Pomona did well this year, earning the #6 position. More on California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Hillsdale College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Get the full Hillsdale College report
Holy Apostles College And Seminary came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Holy Apostles College And Seminary
Howard University landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Howard University
Saint Michaels College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read more about Saint Michaels College
Transylvania University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Transylvania University
College Of The Redwoods placed #12 among Philosophy schools in the United States. See the full College Of The Redwoods profile
John Brown University did well this year, earning the #13 position. See the full John Brown University profile
Rio Salado College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read more about Rio Salado College
Rosemont College
Rosemont College landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rosemont College
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #16 among Philosophy schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Bayamon Central University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Bayamon Central University
Carson Newman College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read more about Carson Newman College
Ohio Dominican University did well this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Ohio Dominican University profile
The College Of Wooster placed #20 among Philosophy schools in the United States. More on The College Of Wooster
Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Virginia Wesleyan College report
Austin Peay State University placed #22 among Philosophy schools in the United States. Get the full Austin Peay State University report
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #23 among Philosophy schools in the United States. Read the full report on Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania
Oxnard College
Oxnard College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read more about Oxnard College
Roosevelt University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. More on Roosevelt University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Philosophy Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Allegheny College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. See the full Allegheny College profile
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read the full report on Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Methodist University did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Methodist University profile
Pacific Lutheran University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pacific Lutheran University
Reedley College
Reedley College placed #30 among Philosophy schools in the United States. Get the full Reedley College report
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full San Diego State University profile
University Of Delaware landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Delaware
Contra Costa College placed #33 among Philosophy schools in the United States. Get the full Contra Costa College report
Oakland University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read the full report on Oakland University
Valparaiso University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Valparaiso University report
William Jewell College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read more about William Jewell College
Pitzer College
Pitzer College did well this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Pitzer College report
University Of Alaska Anchorage came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Alaska Anchorage profile
Austin Community College District placed #39 among Philosophy schools in the United States. See the full Austin Community College District profile
Carleton College
Carleton College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Carleton College report
Simpson College
Simpson College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Get the full Simpson College report
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #42 in this year's ranking. More on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Manhattanville College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read more about Manhattanville College
Purdue University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
South Mountain Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about South Mountain Community College
Texas State University San Marcos placed #46 among Philosophy schools in the United States. See the full Texas State University San Marcos profile
University Of Guam ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read more about University Of Guam
American University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. See the full American University profile
Arizona Western College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on Arizona Western College
Marquette University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Philosophy schools. Read the full report on Marquette University
Related Philosophy Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Philosophy Schools (All Levels)
- Best Philosophy Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Philosophy Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Philosophy Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Philosophy Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Philosophy Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 913 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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