U.S. median for this major: $56,812.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 40% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,510.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,679. College Scorecard.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Philosophy: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Philosophy nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses University of Wisconsin-Madison's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $4,200 | $17,640 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $4,101 | $17,224 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $8,134 | $34,163 | 1.4 years |
| $75–110k | $17,763 | $74,605 | 3.2 years |
| $110k+ | $27,292 | $114,626 | 4.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Philosophy graduates 4 years after graduating ($61,186) minus $37,564 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $23,622 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Philosophy at Wisconsin colleges
Every Wisconsin college we cover that reports Philosophy graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | $61,186 | $24,216 | $17,354 | 90% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | $59,370 | $25,500 | $15,014 | 49% |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | $39,532 | $23,380 | $14,559 | 51% |
15 more Wisconsin colleges offer Philosophy but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Philosophy graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at University of Wisconsin-Madison, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Acceptance rate: 45% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 90% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $73,792
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison
- History$58,343
- English$53,197
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$58,565
- Area Studies$55,733
- Linguistics—
University of Wisconsin-Madison Philosophy questions
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison Philosophy graduates earn?
Philosophy graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn a median $61,186 four years after graduating and $35,975 one year after. The U.S. median for Philosophy graduates across 85 colleges is $56,812.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Madison Philosophy graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Philosophy graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison is $24,216, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,510.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a good school for Philosophy in Wisconsin?
On pay, Philosophy graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn $61,186 four years out, $1,816 above the median for the same major across 3 Wisconsin colleges ($59,370) and $4,374 above the U.S. median ($56,812). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Wisconsin-Madison rank for Philosophy in Wisconsin?
Of 3 Wisconsin colleges reporting Philosophy graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Philosophy graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $136,990 in the Madison, WI area and $167,220 nationally.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of Wisconsin-Madison Philosophy: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/philosophy (College Scorecard and BLS data).