WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-6% vs national median140 grads tracked

Philosophy at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 82nd of 163 bachelor's programs in Philosophy 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 (bachelor's) graduates.

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

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Philosophy earn a median $36,341 one year after graduating, rising to $70,870 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $56,148 for this field, ranking 82nd of 163 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
7.9 yrs
≈ $9,380 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Cincinnati
$53,421 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$53,219 · 5 yrs out
Central Connecticut State University
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$52,569 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$52,542 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$52,071 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$52,003 · 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

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