HUMANITIES Specialization

Philosophy

Philosophy graduates earn $54,455 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $34,926 and $78,043. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Philosophy

This page covers Philosophy as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Philosophy & Religion and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Philosophy is a focused area of study within Philosophy & Religion. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $54,455 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 916 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 9,331 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $31,583
Median Earnings · 4yr: $54,455
Colleges Offering: 916
Graduates / Year: 9,331
Avg Net Price / yr: $22,401

How Much Do Philosophy Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Philosophy, a typical graduate earns $54,455, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $34,926 and $78,043, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $31,583 at one year out to $54,455 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$31,583

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$54,455

4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$56,848

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Philosophy graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$34,926 25th pct.

$54,455 Median

$78,043 75th pct.

A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $54,455 and an estimated $89,604 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.7 years.

Based on outcomes from 803 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 9,331 students who complete Philosophy programs each year, the majority (82%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

82%

Bachelor's 82%

Master's 9%

Doctorate 4%

What Can You Do With a Philosophy Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Philosophy graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Natural Sciences Managers pay the most at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Natural Sciences Managers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +8.2% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Natural Sciences Managers

$167,220

$119K $222K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 9,200 openings/yr 109K employed nationally

Science Reading Comprehension Active Listening Reading Comprehension Active Listening

Day-to-day responsibilities

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.

↗ +2.0% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Philosophy and Religion Teachers

$80,260

$63K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,800 openings/yr 20K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Instructing Speaking Active Listening Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.

↗ +1.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Mathematical Science Teachers

$79,940

$62K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 3,900 openings/yr 48K employed nationally

Mathematics Speaking Active Listening Instructing Reading Comprehension

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as linear algebra, differential equations, and discrete mathematics.

Top Colleges for Philosophy

Not sure where to study Philosophy? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at University of Pennsylvania, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit	198	5.4%	$28,699	$111,371
2	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public	127	9%	$12,548	$82,511
3	Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA · Nonprofit	111	16.4%	$41,704	$103,937
4	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public	110	33%	$16,109	$74,915
5	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public	102	11%	$13,481	$92,446
6	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Nonprofit	97	4%	$21,590	$102,491
7	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public	95	45.2%	$17,354	$73,792
8	New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit	91	9.2%	$37,050	$82,509
9	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public	86	39.2%	$14,091	$78,466
10	University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit	82	9.8%	$32,740	$92,498
11	University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public	72	41.8%	$14,741	$80,838
12	Emory University Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit	71	10.7%	$22,585	$80,137
13	University of Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	70	4.5%	$14,860	$91,885
14	Boston University Boston, MA · Nonprofit	68	11.1%	$24,402	$83,238
15	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO · Public	67	78.1%	$25,346	$69,738
16	Fordham University Bronx, NY · Nonprofit	66	59.3%	$44,338	$85,569
17	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN · Nonprofit	61	11.3%	$26,780	$99,980
18	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD · Public	60	44.8%	$15,678	$82,860
19	San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public	59	96.4%	$12,278	$68,077
20	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public	57	15.3%	$11,655	$72,200

View all colleges

Ranked by Philosophy graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Philosophy program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Philosophy degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Philosophy Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Philosophy shows 4 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $31,583 at graduation to $54,455 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing field Related careers are projected to grow up to +8.2% over the next decade, with Natural Sciences Managers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 14,900 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availability Offered at 916 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.

CONS

Modest median earnings Four-year median of $54,455 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($34,926) and 75th ($78,043) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Philosophy Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Philosophy graduates earn?

$54,455 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $34,926 and $78,043, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Philosophy degree?

$31,583 in the first year out. That grows to $54,455 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Philosophy degree?

Natural Sciences Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $167,220 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Philosophy program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Philosophy bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Philosophy?

916 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Philosophy degree worth it?

$54,455 median earnings four years out against $22,401 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Philosophy and Philosophy & Religion?

Philosophy is the narrower of the two: Philosophy & Religion covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Philosophy-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Philosophy graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Philosophy graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Philosophy graduates?

Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Natural Sciences Managers are among the strongest-growth roles at +8.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.