Philosophy at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
23
Optimistic
23
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,893/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.1x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #60 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) 8.8x 9.1x 9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.5x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 23 19

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,500
10.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$36,701
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $27,893 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 9.1x 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 -1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,500 represents roughly 11 months of the $27,893 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #60 of 77 Philosophy programs, Texas State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Texas State University

Texas State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 34,547 in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State University →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Philosophy at Texas State University?
A score of 23/100 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 $410,272 in decade earnings vs $404,326 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →