Philosophy Degree in Denver, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Denver, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$90K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.1 yrs
in Denver
Cost of Living
128
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Denver, CO Overview
Denver is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 74,098. Public tuition averages $11,380/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 Denver is approximately $56,320, growing to $89,600 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$49,039/yr
Room & Board
$14,960/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,823/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
65%
Philosophy Salary in Denver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Denver's cost of living index of 128 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Denver adjustment factor: 1.28x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Denver
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Denver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $49,039
Denver avg aid: $8,823/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,520
vs HS diploma in Denver
ROI Payback Period
9.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Denver
$278,640
Lifetime earnings premium ($384,000) minus total education cost ($105,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Denver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Denver for Philosophy
University of Colorado Denver
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
University of Denver
private
$56,268/yr
$225,072 total
Regis University
private
$41,810/yr
$167,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Denver
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Denver
Denver offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Denver Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Colorado Cities
Colorado Springs, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
22 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 Denver
Chinese Studies
$70K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$64K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$64K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$54K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$56K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$64K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$64K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Denver — 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 Denver.