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Philosophy at Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,668/yr (63% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)

Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)

ROI 2.0x earnings multiple

Ranked #41 of 77 Philosophy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Philosophy graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$549K	$541K	$493K
Earnings Multiple	2.0x	2.0x	1.8x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	44%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	30	29	21

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$276,180

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$80,592

71% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,937

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$33,503

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,668 put Columbia University in the City of New York's Philosophy program 63% above the national median of $32,297 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The financial case is thin at 2.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Philosophy's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $52,668 far exceeding the $20,937 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #41 of 77 Philosophy programs, Columbia University in the City of New York falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York's 4% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, with a mid-sized student body of 8,899 in New York, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $80,592 over four years — 71% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia University in the City of New York →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Mathematicians $121,680/yr

Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Philosophy at Other Schools

Other Majors at Columbia University in the City of New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at Columbia University in the City of New York?

A score of 29/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Philosophy careers?

With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $493,420 in decade earnings vs $549,493 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Columbia University in the City of New York a hidden gem for Philosophy?

After financial aid, the average student pays $80,592 over four years — 71% below the $276,180 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →