The study of philosophy allows you to develop the core skills needed to succeed in a broad range of careers, as well as graduate school.

99% of Illinois philosophy majors secured a first destination within the last three years, with 42% starting a job and 57% pursuing additional education. The reported median salary for philosophy majors in this period was $76,500.

What jobs can I do with a philosophy degree?

  • student in graduation cap and gown gazes into distance

    Law: lawyer, paralegal

    • The analytical, argumentative, and critical thinking skills developed by philosophy majors are directly transferrable to the legal realm. Many philosophy majors excel in law school due to their training in logical reasoning and ethics.
  • Education: philosophy professor, high school teacher
    • With a knack for explaining complex concepts, philosophy graduates often thrive in educational settings from K-12 through higher education.
  • Technology: ethical compliance officer, AI ethics researcher
    • As technology raises new ethical concerns, the tech industry increasingly values the insights provided by philosophy graduates.
  • Business: management consultant, financial analyst
    • Philosophical training is advantageous in the corporate world, as it fosters sharp analysis and ethical decision-making.
  • Writing and Publishing: author, editor
    • With their proficiency in written communication and argumentation, philosophy graduates excel in careers that require strong writing skills.
  • Non-Profit Sector: program coordinator, grant writer
    • Devoted to ethics and social justice, philosophy majors are well suited to positions within non-profit organizations.

The possibilities are endless. A philosophy degree gives you skills employers value most — like problem-solving, communication, open-mindedness, a strong work ethic, adaptability, self-management, teamwork, and leadership.

Read alumni stories  Who studies philosophy? 

What skills do you gain from a degree in philosophy?

student in graduation gown gazes into distance

The skills you gain with a degree in philosophy are highly transferrable across a range of industries and professions. In a fast-changing world, the skills you build will be relevant to jobs that may not even exist yet. 

  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Courage to disagree and think independently
  • Skill in asking probing and relevant questions
  • Clear, concise, and compelling communication
  • Extract and communicate important insights from dense qualitative information
  • Explain complicated ideas so non-experts can understand them
  • Recognize patterns and flaws in reasoning
  • Craft cogent arguments based on independent research
  • Consider diverse viewpoints and work well with others

Job search tips for philosophy majors

Resources

The University of Illinois and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offer a variety of career counseling services that you can take advantage of as a student.

Career Center LAS Career Services Paul M. Lisnek LAS Hub

Graduate and Professional School Preparation

Student looking into distance at graduation ceremony

Philosophy is a broad field that can prepare you for many different graduate programs.

Data shows that philosophy majors excel on the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT and other graduate admissions tests. Regardless of what discipline you choose to pursue in graduate school, the study of philosophy will help you excel because philosophy teaches you how to think critically, express ideas clearly and persuasively, and approach problems with logical rigor. 

Many philosophy graduates pursue advanced degrees in:

  • Law
    • Many philosophy students find law school to be a natural choice because they have spent years honing their abilities to craft and handle arguments both in writing and orally. The American Philosophical Association reports that philosophy majors tend to score higher on the LSAT than students in other popular majors.
  • Philosophy
  • Human Resources and Industrial Relations
    • Philosophy teaches you how to consider diverse perspectives and how to work well with others, which are skills highly valued in human resources.
  • Education
    • With a knack for explaining complex concepts, philosophy graduates often thrive in educational settings from K-12 through higher education.
  • Business and Finance
    • Philosophical training is advantageous in the corporate world, as it fosters sharp analysis and ethical decision-making. Philosophy majors tend to outperform most other majors, including economics, stats, finance, and accounting, on the GMAT.
  • Computer Science
    • Our CS + Philosophy majors are well prepared for graduate education in computer science.

Many philosophy graduates who have a second major in the social sciences or STEM pursue graduate degrees in: 

  • Social Sciences
  • Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Medical School
Krupa Patel

Alumni Spotlight: Krupa Patel (JD/PhD at Harvard)

Krupa Patel is a JD/PhD student at Harvard University. She graduated from Illinois in 2016 and is interested in ethics and political philosophy.