Philosophy graduates from Oberlin College earn $18,154 median salary — below the national average for this program.
Philosophy at Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Philosophy at Oberlin College
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Oberlin College and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Philosophy at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 15 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Oberlin College, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $18,154 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $44,061 across all institutions offering Philosophy, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Oberlin College, the mean median-earnings figure is $46,213, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Philosophy at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | $107,454 | $19,000 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $98,592 | — |
| Boston College | $97,519 | $18,000 |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | $78,041 | — |
| William & Mary | $75,423 | $18,312 |
| Fordham University | $74,507 | $20,500 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | $71,796 | $15,000 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $71,790 | $19,500 |
| University of Chicago | $71,709 | $22,641 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $70,709 | $14,618 |
Other Programs at Oberlin College
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $129,395 | $26,000 |
| Economics | $87,120 | $25,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $70,689 | $23,250 |
| History | $60,895 | $25,250 |
| Area Studies | $55,151 | $24,951 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $49,906 | $25,567 |
| Psychology, General | $48,109 | $23,750 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $46,580 | $23,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,299 | $20,500 |
| Biology, General | $44,095 | $23,250 |
Other Schools with Philosophy
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.