Philosophy Degree in Pomona, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Pomona, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$92K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.9 yrs
in Pomona
Cost of Living
131
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Pomona, CA Overview
Pomona, California (pop. 151,348) has 11 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 131 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,430/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 Pomona is approximately $57,640, growing to $91,700 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$7,387/yr
Private Tuition
$40,824/yr
Room & Board
$16,037/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,843/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
66%
Philosophy Salary in Pomona (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pomona's cost of living index of 131 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Pomona adjustment factor: 1.31x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Pomona
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Pomona tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,387 | Private avg: $40,824
Pomona avg aid: $10,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,696
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,790
vs HS diploma in Pomona
ROI Payback Period
7.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pomona
$299,304
Lifetime earnings premium ($393,000) minus total education cost ($93,696)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Pomona
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pomona for Philosophy
Cal Poly Pomona
public
$7,387/yr
$29,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mt. San Antonio College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Pomona
Pomona offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pomona Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$62K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$62K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$57K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$50K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$52K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$49K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$51K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$58K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Pomona
Chinese Studies
$72K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$66K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$58K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$59K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$66K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Pomona — 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 Pomona.