Philosophy Degree in Cambridge, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Cambridge, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.2 yrs
in Cambridge
Cost of Living
133
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Cambridge, MA Overview
Cambridge, Massachusetts (pop. 118,403) has 6 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 133 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,322/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 Cambridge is approximately $58,520, growing to $93,100 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$13,207/yr
Private Tuition
$57,624/yr
Room & Board
$17,447/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,677/yr
Unemployment
3.7%
Graduation Rate
75%
Philosophy Salary in Cambridge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cambridge's cost of living index of 133 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Cambridge adjustment factor: 1.33x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Cambridge
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Cambridge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,207 | Private avg: $57,624
Cambridge avg aid: $14,677/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,616
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,970
vs HS diploma in Cambridge
ROI Payback Period
10.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cambridge
$276,384
Lifetime earnings premium ($399,000) minus total education cost ($122,616)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Cambridge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cambridge for Philosophy
Harvard University
private
$57,261/yr
$229,044 total
MIT
private
$57,986/yr
$231,944 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Cambridge
Cambridge offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cambridge Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$60K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$51K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$59K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$48K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$57K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$45K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$52K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Cambridge
Chinese Studies
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$67K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$67K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$56K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$59K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$67K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$67K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Cambridge — 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 Cambridge.