Philosophy Degree in Lawrence, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Lawrence, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.8 yrs
in Lawrence
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Lawrence, KS Overview
While Lawrence has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Philosophy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,971/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 Lawrence is approximately $47,520, growing to $75,600 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$5,898/yr
Private Tuition
$33,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,971/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,187/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
53%
Philosophy Salary in Lawrence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawrence's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Lawrence adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Lawrence
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Lawrence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,898 | Private avg: $33,400
Lawrence avg aid: $12,187/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$75,476
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,720
vs HS diploma in Lawrence
ROI Payback Period
7.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawrence
$248,524
Lifetime earnings premium ($324,000) minus total education cost ($75,476)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Lawrence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawrence for Philosophy
University of Kansas
public
$11,166/yr
$44,664 total
Haskell Indian Nations University
public
$630/yr
$2,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Johnson County Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Lawrence
Lawrence offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawrence Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$46K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$45K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$36K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$43K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$37K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$38K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$42K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$42K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lawrence
Chinese Studies
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$45K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Lawrence — 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 Lawrence.