WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-7% vs national median52 grads tracked

Philosophy at Western Illinois University

Ranked 86th of 163 bachelor's programs in Philosophy by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$45,751
middle 50%: $21,368 – $67,042
Median · 5 years out
$52,165
middle 50%: $36,674 – $67,570
Median · 10 years out
$61,332
middle 50%: $41,695 – $78,843

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 Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Philosophy earn a median $45,751 one year after graduating, rising to $61,332 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $56,148 for this field, ranking 86th 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
7.5 yrs
≈ $8,352 total interest

Same major at other universities

Central Connecticut State University
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
College of Staten Island/CUNY
$53,107 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$52,636 · 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
University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
$52,071 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$52,003 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$51,537 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$51,480 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out

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