Philosophy Degree in Lakewood, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Lakewood, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.4 yrs
in Lakewood
Cost of Living
105.8
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Lakewood, CO Overview
Lakewood, Colorado (pop. 155,984) has 6 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 105.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,395/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 Lakewood is approximately $46,552, growing to $74,060 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,028/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,371/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
Philosophy Salary in Lakewood (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lakewood's cost of living index of 105.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Lakewood adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Lakewood
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Lakewood tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Lakewood avg aid: $8,371/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,912
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,522
vs HS diploma in Lakewood
ROI Payback Period
11.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lakewood
$208,488
Lifetime earnings premium ($317,400) minus total education cost ($108,912)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Lakewood
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lakewood for Philosophy
Lakewood State University
public
$11,245/yr
$44,980 total
University of Lakewood
public
$12,683/yr
$50,732 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lakewood Community College
$5,959/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Lakewood
Lakewood offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lakewood 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
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
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 Lakewood
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$47K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Lakewood — 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 Lakewood.