Ethics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Explore the foundational principles of moral reasoning and their real-world implications through a rigorous academic examination of ethical theory and practice. This program equips students with the analytical tools to critically assess complex moral dilemmas across diverse contexts, fostering thoughtful, principled decision-making in personal, professional, and societal domains.
- Ethical Theory: Investigate core philosophical frameworks that define right and wrong, including consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics, and care ethics, to understand how moral judgments are formed and justified.
- History of Ethics: Trace the evolution of moral thought from ancient traditions—such as Stoicism, Confucianism, and Aristotelianism—to modern and contemporary ethical debates.
- Belief and Value Systems: Examine how cultural, religious, and personal worldviews shape individual and collective moral perspectives, and how these systems influence ethical behavior.
- Ethical Constructs: Analyze abstract moral concepts like justice, autonomy, responsibility, and fairness, and explore their role in constructing coherent ethical arguments.
- Applied Ethics: Engage with pressing real-world issues such as medical ethics, environmental stewardship, business integrity, digital privacy, and social justice to evaluate ethical responsibilities in specialized fields.
Ethics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Ethics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Ethics degrees, including Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 20,840 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1126 | $78,050 | $47,550 - $134,910 | 20,840 | N/A |
Ethics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $40,340 in South Dakota to $103,210 in California—a 156% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Maine. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 20,840 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Ethics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 21 institutions offering Ethics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Ethics is found at University of Washington (UW Bothell), Bothell Campus (26 graduates), American University (AU) (25 graduates), Harvard University (18 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (18 graduates), and Fordham University (15 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 147 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington (UW Bothell) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Bothell, Washington | Public | uwb.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
|
25 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
|
18 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
|
15 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Wake Forest, North Carolina | Private | sebts.edu |
| Temple University |
Other Award
|
5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Master's
|
4 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWGB) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
4 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | uwgb.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Other Award
|
3 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Other Award
|
3 | Superior, Wisconsin | Public | uwsuper.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Other Award
|
3 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Master's
|
2 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Thiel College |
Other Award
|
2 | Greenville, Pennsylvania | Private | thiel.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Saint Meinrad School of Theology |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | St. Meinrad, Indiana | Private | saintmeinrad.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Other Award
|
1 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Ethics programs
How much can I earn with a Ethics degree?
Salaries for Ethics graduates vary by role and location. Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $78,050 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $103,210 compared to $40,340 in South Dakota. Approximately 20,840 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Ethics programs?
Currently 21 accredited institutions offer Ethics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Washington (UW Bothell), Bothell Campus (26 graduates), American University (AU) (25 graduates), and Harvard University (18 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Ethics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 97 in 2010 to a peak of 153 in 2020, before declining slightly to 147 in 2023-24. This represents a 52% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Ethics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 20,840 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Philosophy Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Philosophy field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Religious Studies
A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology,...
Buddhist Studies
A program that focuses on the philosophy preached by Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha, in ancient India and subsequently interpreted by his disciples and...
Christian Studies
A program that focuses on the philosophy and teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles, and the subsequent intellectual and cultural movements and...
Islamic Studies
A program that focuses on Islam as preached by the Prophet Muhammad in 6th century Arabia and subsequently interpreted and elaborated by Islamic...
Jewish Studies
A program that focuses on the history, culture, and religion of the Jewish people. Includes instruction in Jewish religious heritage, sacred texts, and...
Talmudic Studies
A program focused on intense study of the Talmud that fosters values, critical thinking, and scholarship skills; prepares students for entry into a...