Philosophy Degree in Franklin, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Franklin, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.7 yrs
in Franklin
Cost of Living
118.5
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Franklin, TN Overview
While Franklin has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Philosophy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,807/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Franklin is approximately $52,140, growing to $82,950 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,100/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,807/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,962/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
56%
Philosophy Salary in Franklin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Franklin's cost of living index of 118.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Franklin adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Franklin
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Franklin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,100 | Private avg: $32,000
Franklin avg aid: $15,962/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,628
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,665
vs HS diploma in Franklin
ROI Payback Period
9.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Franklin
$251,872
Lifetime earnings premium ($355,500) minus total education cost ($103,628)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Franklin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Franklin for Philosophy
Franklin State University
public
$10,603/yr
$42,412 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Franklin Community College
$5,615/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Franklin
Franklin offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Franklin Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$40K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$41K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$37K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$35K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$40K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$40K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Jackson, TN
$36K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$46K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Franklin
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$59K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Franklin — 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 Franklin.