WhatGradsMake
Master's+3% vs national median68 grads tracked

Philosophy and Religious Studies at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 18th of 39 master's programs in Philosophy and Religious Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,342
middle 50%: $26,197 – $64,085
Median · 5 years out
$58,858
middle 50%: $37,247 – $80,729
Median · 10 years out
$64,226
middle 50%: $40,342 – $78,529

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Philosophy and Religious Studies (master's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's master's program in Philosophy and Religious Studies earn a median $40,342 one year after graduating, rising to $64,226 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 3% above the national median of $56,877 for this field, ranking 18th of 39 reporting programs.

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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,372 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Virginia
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$61,969 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$60,219 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$59,422 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
$55,464 · 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
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 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

Related fields of study

Philosophy
Compare universities
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
Compare universities
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
Compare universities
Religion/Religious Studies
Compare universities