Bachelor's-6% vs national median191 grads tracked
Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 84th of 163 bachelor's programs in Philosophy by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$30,261
middle 50%: $22,739 – $43,722
Median · 5 years out
$52,569
middle 50%: $37,012 – $72,156
Median · 10 years out
$72,585
middle 50%: $52,636 – $106,500
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Philosophy (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Philosophy graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University start with a $30k median salary. Earnings grow to $53k by year five and $73k by year ten.
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
8.2 yrs
≈ $10,159 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Northern Illinois University
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$52,636 · 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
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$51,929 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$51,694 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out