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Philosophy at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
25
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,936/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.5x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #57 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 $422K $433K $420K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.3x 8.5x 8.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.0x 3.1x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 25 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,752
Out-of-state: $139,736 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$98,128
-93% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$30,831
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,936 track close to the $32,297 national median for Philosophy programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 8.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 64% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #57 out of 77 programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia's financial outcomes for Philosophy trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

With a 61% acceptance rate, University of South Carolina-Columbia is moderately selective, serving a student body of 28,113 in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

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

Compare this program → View all 77 schools offering Philosophy →

Philosophy at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($73,053) Columbia University in the City of New York ($52,668) Boston College ($47,345) Utah Valley University ($43,699) CUNY Lehman College ($43,311) Southern Methodist University ($42,334) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($42,072) University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($42,072)

Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,161) Chemical Engineering ($75,680) Computer Engineering ($73,982) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,872) Mechanical Engineering ($72,370) International Business ($70,992) Statistics ($69,543) Civil Engineering ($69,424)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Philosophy program score?
This program scores 25/100 — 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 →