Philosophy at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
16 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
17
Optimistic
16
Base Case
14
Pessimistic
Earnings $14,151/yr (-56% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #77 of 77 Philosophy programs

Program Analysis

Studying philosophy at UTRGV requires a realistic understanding of the regional labor market. The Rio Grande Valley economy, while growing, doesn't typically generate high-paying roles that directly seek a philosophy background without significant further specialization. While your degree cultivates invaluable critical thinking, the local job landscape leans more towards fields like healthcare, education, or public service, where a general humanities degree often necessitates additional certifications or graduate work to translate into higher earnings. Many entry-level roles where critical thinking is valued are also increasingly susceptible to AI. Therefore, if you pursue this path, actively seek out internships in areas like law or public administration early on, and realistically plan for graduate studies or a career search extending beyond the immediate region.

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 $324K $349K $364K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.2x 8.8x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.4x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 17 16 14

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,436
Out-of-state: $79,756 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$26,000
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
11.0 months of Year 1 earnings

About The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 27,026 in Edinburg, TX. 64% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $26,000 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley →

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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's Philosophy program score?
This program scores 16/100 — on the lower end for Philosophy. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Philosophy to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Philosophy careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Philosophy earnings lower at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?
Lower starting pay at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →