Philosophy Degree in Medford, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Medford, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.1 yrs
in Medford
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Medford, OR Overview
While Medford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Philosophy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,881/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 Medford is approximately $48,840, growing to $77,700 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,326/yr
Private Tuition
$41,865/yr
Room & Board
$14,881/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,464/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
67%
Philosophy Salary in Medford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Medford's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Medford adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Medford
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Medford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,326 | Private avg: $41,865
Medford avg aid: $14,464/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,990
vs HS diploma in Medford
ROI Payback Period
10.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Medford
$232,172
Lifetime earnings premium ($333,000) minus total education cost ($100,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Medford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Medford for Philosophy
Southern Oregon University
public
$10,326/yr
$41,304 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rogue Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Medford
Medford offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Medford Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$49K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$57K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$53K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$48K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$51K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$47K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$47K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$53K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Medford
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$49K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$56K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Medford — 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 Medford.