by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, ethics was the 934th most popular major nationwide with 150 degrees awarded. This 2 less than the prior year, a decrease of 1.3%.
Our 2023 Best Ethics Schools ranking analyzes 4 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for ethics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ethics programs later in this article.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to ethics. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and teaching others how to do something.
ethics degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic ethics program qualifications, to serve in some ethics careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Ethics degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in ethics to the highest ethics degree, a . Depending on the ethics degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to ethics, with approximately 73.8% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for ethics workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 72.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 12.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 12.3% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 0.6% |
Most workers in ethics have at least a doctor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in ethics have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which ethics career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your ethics degree? Ethics careers are expected to grow 12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ethics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Professors | 35,700 | 12.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for ethics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for ethics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers ethics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Professors | $82,420 |
With over 37 different ethics degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased ethics school rankings to help you with this.
Ethics is one of 4 different types of Philosophy programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Philosophy | 9,487 |
| Other Philosophy | 297 |
| Applied & Professional Ethics | 98 |
| Logic | 22 |
