Philosophy Degree in Memphis, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Memphis, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.5 yrs
in Memphis
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Memphis, TN Overview
Memphis is one of Tennessee's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 42,935. Public tuition averages $9,944/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Memphis is approximately $40,920, growing to $65,100 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$9,944/yr
Private Tuition
$44,033/yr
Room & Board
$14,138/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,619/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Philosophy Salary in Memphis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Memphis's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Memphis adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Memphis
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Memphis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,944 | Private avg: $44,033
Memphis avg aid: $10,619/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$96,328
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$8,370
vs HS diploma in Memphis
ROI Payback Period
11.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Memphis
$182,672
Lifetime earnings premium ($279,000) minus total education cost ($96,328)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Memphis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Memphis for Philosophy
University of Memphis
public
$9,944/yr
$39,776 total
Rhodes College
private
$52,366/yr
$209,464 total
Christian Brothers University
private
$35,700/yr
$142,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southwest Tennessee Community College
$4,464/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Memphis
Memphis offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Memphis 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
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
Franklin, TN
$52K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$36K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$46K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Memphis
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$47K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Memphis — 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 Memphis.