Philosophy Degree in Colorado Springs, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Colorado Springs, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$85K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Colorado Springs, CO Overview
Colorado Springs is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 22,576. Public tuition averages $5,325/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Colorado Springs is approximately $53,680, growing to $85,400 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$5,325/yr
Private Tuition
$62,070/yr
Room & Board
$15,455/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,479/yr
Unemployment
5%
Graduation Rate
71%
Philosophy Salary in Colorado Springs (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Colorado Springs's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Colorado Springs adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Colorado Springs
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Colorado Springs tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,325 | Private avg: $62,070
Colorado Springs avg aid: $13,479/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$83,120
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,980
vs HS diploma in Colorado Springs
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Colorado Springs
$282,880
Lifetime earnings premium ($366,000) minus total education cost ($83,120)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Colorado Springs
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Colorado Springs for Philosophy
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
public
$10,650/yr
$42,600 total
Colorado College
private
$62,070/yr
$248,280 total
United States Air Force Academy
public
$0/yr
$0 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pikes Peak State College
$4,056/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Colorado Springs Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$56K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Aurora, CO
$49K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$55K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$47K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$45K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$46K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$46K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Colorado Springs
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$61K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Colorado Springs — 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 Colorado Springs.