Bachelor's+1% vs national median140 grads tracked
Philosophy and Religious Studies at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 79th of 188 bachelor's programs in Philosophy and Religious Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,341
middle 50%: $26,474 – $47,574
Median · 5 years out
$52,636
middle 50%: $38,672 – $69,346
Median · 10 years out
$70,870
middle 50%: $44,978 – $91,987
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Philosophy and Religious Studies (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Philosophy and Religious Studies alumni from Northern Illinois University earn a median of $36k in their first year. Median pay reaches $71k after a decade.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.9 yrs
≈ $9,380 total interest
Same major at other universities
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Randolph - Macon College
$53,167 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Berry College
$52,813 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$52,542 · 5 yrs out
Furman University
$52,251 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$52,207 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$52,071 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$52,003 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$51,737 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$92,179 · 5 yrs out