Bachelor's+7% vs national median115 grads tracked
Philosophy at Purdue University
Ranked 35th of 163 bachelor's programs in Philosophy by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$29,487
middle 50%: $22,456 – $41,154
Median · 5 years out
$59,848
middle 50%: $38,967 – $89,458
Median · 10 years out
$77,901
middle 50%: $58,363 – $126,905
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 Purdue University's bachelor's program in Philosophy earn a median $29,487 one year after graduating, rising to $77,901 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $56,148 for this field, ranking 35th 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
7.6 yrs
≈ $9,457 total interest
Same major at other universities
Saint Olaf College
$61,926 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Concordia College - Moorhead
$60,342 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$60,144 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$59,682 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$59,619 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$59,452 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$59,368 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$59,353 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Purdue University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out