Philosophy Degree in Springfield, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Springfield, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.1 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
133
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Springfield, MA Overview
Springfield, Massachusetts (pop. 155,929) has 6 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 133 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,238/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 Springfield is approximately $58,520, growing to $93,100 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,943/yr
Private Tuition
$42,786/yr
Room & Board
$21,289/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,962/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
49%
Philosophy Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 133 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 1.33x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,943 | Private avg: $42,786
Springfield avg aid: $7,962/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$132,928
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,970
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
11.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$266,072
Lifetime earnings premium ($399,000) minus total education cost ($132,928)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Philosophy
Western New England University
private
$42,228/yr
$168,912 total
Springfield College
private
$43,344/yr
$173,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Springfield Technical Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$60K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$51K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$59K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$48K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$57K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$45K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$52K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Springfield
Chinese Studies
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$67K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$67K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$56K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$59K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$67K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$67K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.