Philosophy and Religious Studies Colleges Under $20,000

Stanford University's philosophy program costs students just $12,136 annually after aid, making one of the world's most selective institutions surprisingly affordable for this field. The 3.68% acceptance rate contrasts sharply with schools like San Francisco State, where 94.20% of applicants gain admission for $12,882 net cost. Philosophy and Religious Studies graduates increasingly find opportunities in tech companies across Silicon Valley and beyond, where critical thinking skills command premium salaries in product development and ethics consulting roles. College of the Ozarks offers the lowest net price at $7,669 through its work-study program, while graduation rates span from 20.20% at Shaw University to Stanford's 92.80%. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with Tennessee-Chattanooga and UNC Pembroke providing strong regional pathways into nonprofit management, education, and emerging fields like bioethics consultation.

Programs

$7,669 – $19,692

Net Price Range

$21,781

Avg. Program Earnings

49.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

28 Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, Missouri	$7,669	$21,290	61.3%	21.1%
2	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, New York	$9,900	$8,379	46.6%	92.1%
3	University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina	$9,918	$3,571	44.5%	89.7%
4	Truman State University Kirksville, Missouri	$12,030	$9,470	68.4%	45.1%
5	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
6	The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee	$12,817	$10,144	53.1%	82.7%
7	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
8	Shaw University Raleigh, North Carolina	$14,083	$17,176	20.2%	61.0%
9	Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, Florida	$14,892	$14,794	27.8%	85.0%
10	The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, Tennessee	$15,133	$10,506	35.7%	80.3%
11	Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio	$15,389	$9,622	43.0%
12	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, Florida	$15,847	$5,785	51.9%	32.9%
13	Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, Iowa	$15,975	$33,220	38.3%	74.5%
14	Winthrop University Rock Hill, South Carolina	$16,353	$15,956	61.2%	69.8%
15	William Jewell College Liberty, Missouri	$16,602	$19,890	61.6%	41.0%
16	Radford University Radford, Virginia	$16,640	$12,286	49.6%	93.3%
17	Quincy University Quincy, Illinois	$17,324	$35,740	42.7%	61.7%
18	Saint Augustine's University Raleigh, North Carolina	$17,740	$16,896	33.2%	58.9%
19	Benedict College Columbia, South Carolina	$17,781	$18,000	21.1%	67.8%
20	Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, Tennessee	$17,999	$26,150	53.9%	78.5%
21	West Virginia Wesleyan College Buckhannon, West Virginia	$18,148	$33,494	49.5%	96.4%
22	Buena Vista University Storm Lake, Iowa	$18,321	$40,190	47.3%	77.3%
23	Rocky Mountain College Billings, Montana	$18,508	$33,252	46.7%	75.2%
24	Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, Tennessee	$18,661	$34,700	46.4%	79.8%
25	Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania	$18,686	$62,412	94.1%	6.9%
26	Saint Francis University Loretto, Pennsylvania	$19,173	$41,720	72.8%	73.1%
27	University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina	$19,472	$7,317	70.7%	68.8%
28	Southwestern Christian University Bethany, Oklahoma	$19,692	$21,316	12.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Stanford's philosophy program so affordable compared to its sticker price?

Stanford's generous financial aid reduces the $62,484 sticker price to just $12,136 net cost for philosophy students. This represents an 80% discount from the published tuition rate. The university's massive endowment enables need-based aid that makes it more affordable than many state schools for qualifying students.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable philosophy programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from Shaw University's 20.20% to Stanford's 92.80% among programs under $20,000 net cost. Truman State achieves a solid 68.40% graduation rate at $12,030 annually. Public universities like UNC Pembroke show 44.50% completion rates, while private institutions often struggle with retention despite higher aid packages.

Where can students find the most selective affordable philosophy programs?

Stanford leads with just 3.68% acceptance rate, followed by Florida A&M at 32.93% acceptance for philosophy studies. Truman State maintains selectivity at 45.05% acceptance while keeping costs reasonable. Most affordable options like SUNY Old Westbury accept over 90% of applicants, offering accessible entry points into philosophical studies.

Does College of the Ozarks require tuition payments for philosophy students?

College of the Ozarks operates on a work-study model where students work campus jobs instead of paying tuition. The $7,669 net cost covers room, board, and fees after accounting for the work program credits. Philosophy students typically work 15 hours weekly in various campus departments while maintaining full academic loads.

What regional advantages do Tennessee schools offer philosophy majors?

Tennessee-Chattanooga costs $12,817 annually with 53.10% graduation rates, while UT Southern runs $15,133 with 35.70% completion. The state's growing healthcare and technology sectors increasingly value philosophy graduates for ethics consulting roles. Nashville's healthcare industry particularly seeks philosophy majors for bioethics positions paying $45,000-65,000 starting salaries.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.