Philosophy Degree in Sioux Falls, SD — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Sioux Falls, SD. 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
9 yrs
in Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Sioux Falls, SD Overview
Sioux Falls, South Dakota (pop. 192,517) has 10 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $929/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 Sioux Falls is approximately $47,520, growing to $75,600 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,703/yr
Private Tuition
$29,690/yr
Room & Board
$10,050/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,473/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
67%
Philosophy Salary in Sioux Falls (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sioux Falls'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.Sioux Falls adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Sioux Falls
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Sioux Falls tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,703 | Private avg: $29,690
Sioux Falls avg aid: $7,473/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,012
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,720
vs HS diploma in Sioux Falls
ROI Payback Period
9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sioux Falls
$236,988
Lifetime earnings premium ($324,000) minus total education cost ($87,012)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Sioux Falls
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sioux Falls for Philosophy
Augustana University
private
$38,070/yr
$152,280 total
University of Sioux Falls
private
$21,310/yr
$85,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southeast Technical College
$5,250/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sioux Falls Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby South Dakota Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Sioux Falls
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
Classical Studies
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Sioux Falls — 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 Sioux Falls.