Philosophy Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.1 yrs
in Charleston
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Charleston, SC Overview
Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/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 Charleston is approximately $45,320, growing to $72,100 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$13,659/yr
Private Tuition
$29,969/yr
Room & Board
$12,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,774/yr
Unemployment
6.2%
Graduation Rate
62%
Philosophy Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Charleston
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Charleston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969
Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,084
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,270
vs HS diploma in Charleston
ROI Payback Period
11.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Charleston
$205,916
Lifetime earnings premium ($309,000) minus total education cost ($103,084)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Charleston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Charleston for Philosophy
College of Charleston
public
$12,622/yr
$50,488 total
The Citadel
public
$14,696/yr
$58,784 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Trident Technical College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Charleston
Charleston offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Charleston
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$43K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$46K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Charleston — 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 Charleston.