Philosophy at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
22
Optimistic
22
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,810/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.1x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #61 of 77 Philosophy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Philosophy graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $404K $417K $410K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.8x 8.1x 7.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.0x 3.1x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 22 22 18

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (3.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $27,810 track close to the $32,297 national median for Philosophy programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Philosophy's typical career paths, with 64% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a -2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $27,810 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #61 of 77 Philosophy programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Fort Collins has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 25,148 students enrolled in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Mathematicians $121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Philosophy at Other Schools

Other Majors at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at Colorado State University-Fort Collins?
A score of 22/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Philosophy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Philosophy careers?
With 64% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $409,994 in decade earnings vs $403,839 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →