Philosophy Degree in Wichita, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Philosophy degree analysis for Wichita, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.2 yrs
in Wichita
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Philosophy in Wichita, KS Overview
Wichita, Kansas (pop. 397,532) has 20 colleges offering Philosophy programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $837/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 Wichita is approximately $45,760, growing to $72,800 by mid-career.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$43,408/yr
Room & Board
$12,817/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,474/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Philosophy Salary in Wichita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wichita's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Philosophy salary: $44,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Wichita adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Philosophy ROI Calculator for Wichita
Estimate your return on investment for a Philosophy degree using local Wichita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $43,408
Wichita avg aid: $16,474/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,360
vs HS diploma in Wichita
ROI Payback Period
9.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wichita
$226,172
Lifetime earnings premium ($312,000) minus total education cost ($85,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Philosophy in Wichita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wichita for Philosophy
Wichita State University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Butler Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Philosophy in Wichita
Wichita offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Philosophy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wichita Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Philosophy Job Titles
Philosophy in Nearby Kansas Cities
Overland Park, KS
$45K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$36K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$43K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$37K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$48K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$38K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$42K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$42K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Wichita
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Philosophy Degree in Wichita — 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 Wichita.