Philosophy Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.3 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Philosophy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/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 Lafayette is approximately $45,760, growing to $72,800 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,374/yr
Private Tuition
$38,796/yr
Room & Board
$11,349/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,367/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Philosophy Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Lafayette tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,374 | Private avg: $38,796
Lafayette avg aid: $7,367/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,360
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
9.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$225,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($312,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Philosophy
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
public
$10,374/yr
$41,496 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
South Louisiana Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lafayette Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$40K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$36K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$44K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$39K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$35K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$39K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$41K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lafayette
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Lafayette — 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 Lafayette.