Philosophy Degree in Ann Arbor, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Ann Arbor, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.5 yrs
in Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Ann Arbor, MI Overview
Ann Arbor, Michigan (pop. 123,851) has 14 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,014/month. Although national enrollment in Philosophy has been declining, graduates with skills in Logic and Ethics remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Ann Arbor is approximately $37,400, growing to $59,500 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$16,736/yr
Private Tuition
$33,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,067/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,913/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
65%
Philosophy Salary in Ann Arbor (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Ann Arbor's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Ann Arbor adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Ann Arbor
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Ann Arbor tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,736 | Private avg: $33,100
Ann Arbor avg aid: $16,913/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,212
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,650
vs HS diploma in Ann Arbor
ROI Payback Period
13.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Ann Arbor
$151,788
Lifetime earnings premium ($255,000) minus total education cost ($103,212)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Ann Arbor
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Ann Arbor for Philosophy
University of Michigan
public
$16,736/yr
$66,944 total
Concordia University Ann Arbor
private
$33,100/yr
$132,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Washtenaw Community College
$3,600/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Ann Arbor Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Michigan Cities
Detroit, MI
$38K starting · COL 87
43 colleges
Grand Rapids, MI
$39K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$39K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$41K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Lansing, MI
$37K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$40K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$42K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$41K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Ann Arbor
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$43K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Ann Arbor — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Philosophy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Ann Arbor.