Bachelor's+32% vs national median51 grads tracked
Philosophy at Carleton College
Ranked 4th of 163 bachelor's programs in Philosophy by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$49,855
middle 50%: $27,410 – $76,644
Median · 5 years out
$74,301
middle 50%: $50,083 – $118,430
Median · 10 years out
$76,958
middle 50%: $45,075 – $127,359
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 Carleton College's bachelor's program in Philosophy earn a median $49,855 one year after graduating, rising to $76,958 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 32% above the national median of $56,148 for this field, ranking 4th 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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,541 total interest
Same major at other universities
Sam Houston State University
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$75,329 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$68,726 · 5 yrs out
University of Richmond
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$68,098 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$66,438 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$66,382 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Carleton College
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$136,177 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$136,177 · 5 yrs out
Statistics (Bachelor's)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$102,242 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$97,751 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$79,570 · 5 yrs out
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's)
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's)
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
Philosophy and Religious Studies (Bachelor's)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Chemistry (Bachelor's)
$64,523 · 5 yrs out