The skills acquired through the study of philosophy and/or Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law (JPPL) are universally applicable in the professional world. Students develop skills like problem solving, clear written and oral communication, creative thinking, and mental dexterity—skills that are relevant in any work environment.

Students graduate with the capacity for logical reasoning, with the ability to form valid arguments and find the inconsistencies within the arguments of others. Philosophy/JPPL develop the ability for critical analysis of text, and the ability to evaluate moral dilemmas.

In today’s workforce, employers are seeking individuals with such skills. In the National Association of Colleges + Employers Job Outlook 2026 survey, 98.7% of responding employers indicated that communication competency was either “very important” or “extremely important” for college graduates entering the workforce. 93.5% of employers indicated critical thinking was equally important.

Data Source: National Association of Colleges + Employers Job Outlook 2026

Philosophy/JPPL majors make valuable employees. This is reflected in data on the lifetime earnings of philosophy majors. According to the American Philosophical Association:

“Data gathered by PayScale from the 2020-2021 academic year shows that people with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy tend to earn more over their lifetime than people with degrees in any other humanities field. Philosophy students have both the highest salary of any humanities major ($52,600) and the highest percent increase between starting and mid-career salary ($94,300).” 

Data Source: Philosophy Majors After College

Academic and Professional Graduate Education

Many students who earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy/JPPL decide to continue their education by attending graduate school or a graduate-level professional school. Those interested in a career in academia (professorship, research) typically pursue a Master’s or a Doctorate in Philosophy. NMSU is a land-grant R1 research institution, and many of the professors in the Philosophy Department have published research (e.g., see J-P Vessel’s work here, or Dr. Mark Walker’s work here). Though NMSU does not currently offer a graduate program in philosophy/JPPL, many of our alumni have attended graduate school elsewhere.

A Bachelor of Philosophy is considered one of the best undergraduate degrees in preparation for law school, medical school, or business school. These graduate-level professional schools require standardized testing for admission. Data shows that philosophy majors consistently score higher than many other majors on admissions tests like the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), and the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). According to the American Philosophical Association:

“On the LSAT, philosophy majors rank significantly better than any other humanities degree, with an average score slightly lower than economics for the second highest of any field with more than 2,000 students taking the exam for the 2017-2018 year.” 

Data Source: Philosophy Student Performance on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

In this 2008 article from The Journal of Economic Education, those with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy have the fifth highest scores on the GMAT when ranked by undergraduate major, the highest of any humanities major.

Humanities majors have a higher acceptance rate into medical school than physical science, biological science, or social science majors, coming second to only math and statistics majors. 

Data Source: MCAT and GPAs for Applicants to U.S. MD-Granting Medical Schools by Primary Undergraduate Major, 2023-2024

A bachelor’s degree in philosophy/JPPL provides a solid foundation for students entering the workforce and/or pursuing further education. Philosophy/JPPL equips students with truly marketable skills which translate into academic and professional success. Gone are the days of clichéd jokes about the unemployed philosopher. The data is clear: with philosophy, the possibilities are endless.