Philosophy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,113/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 77 Philosophy programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

Your decision to study Philosophy at Rutgers-New Brunswick places you in a program recognized for its academic rigor, a reputation that significantly contributes to its graduates' strong financial outcomes. Being a top-ranked program in a major metropolitan corridor like the tri-state area means you benefit from exceptional faculty and a robust alumni network. This environment hones highly sought-after critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and communication skills, which are invaluable across diverse industries like finance, law, tech, and consulting, explaining why many graduates successfully transition into high-earning management or analytical roles. While AI risk appears high for this field, it primarily impacts routine, data-driven tasks. Your philosophy training, however, cultivates the very human-centric skills — ethical reasoning, complex problem-solving, and nuanced communication — that AI cannot replicate and which become even more critical in an AI-driven world. Leverage Rutgers' strong connections by actively seeking internships in diverse sectors to demonstrate how your unique analytical toolkit applies to real-world challenges. This proactive approach will clearly differentiate you in the job market.

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 $592K $578K $518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.6x 8.4x 7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,956
Out-of-state: $144,004 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,076
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,625
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,015
55% growth from Year 1

About Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's 65% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 36,357 students enrolled in New Brunswick, NJ.

See all programs and financial aid at Rutgers University-New Brunswick →

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
A score of 40/100 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 $517,892 in decade earnings vs $592,220 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Philosophy program stand out?
Ranked #10 of 77 programs nationally, Rutgers University-New Brunswick lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →