Philosophy at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,289/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #23 of 77 Philosophy programs Top 50%

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 $572K $561K $506K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.3x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.4x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,504
Out-of-state: $164,380 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,840
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,750
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,983
66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,289 per year, Philosophy graduates from University of Arizona earn slightly above the $32,297 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 10.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,750 debt-to-$34,289 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #23 out of 77 programs, University of Arizona's Philosophy offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $34,289 to $56,983 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Arizona

With 86% of applicants admitted, University of Arizona prioritizes broad access, with 40,769 students enrolled in Tucson, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arizona →

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 University of Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Arizona's Philosophy program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Philosophy. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Philosophy to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Philosophy careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →