Philosophy at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
17 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
17
Optimistic
17
Base Case
14
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,824/yr (-32% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI 6.0x earnings multiple (2.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #74 of 77 Philosophy programs

Program Analysis

A Philosophy degree from UIUC, while offering a robust intellectual foundation in critical thinking and complex problem-solving, typically isn't a direct vocational pathway. The higher-earning careers you see often reflect graduates who pursued extensive further education, like law school or an MBA, or those who strategically paired their philosophy studies with a more technical major or minor. Without such specialization, the local Champaign-Urbana job market offers limited direct opportunities, meaning most graduates need to relocate or forge their own path. Your strong analytical skills are valuable, but you'll need to explicitly translate them into a specific professional context to secure competitive roles. If you're passionate about philosophy, consider combining it with a highly marketable field like computer science, data analytics, or business, or view it as a rigorous preparation for graduate studies or professional school.

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 $369K $387K $390K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 5.8x 6.0x 6.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.7x 2.8x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 44% 29%
DegreeOutlook Score 17 17 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)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (2.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,804
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,413
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$42,942
97% growth from Year 1

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

With a 44% acceptance rate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 34,623 students in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Philosophy program score?
This program scores 17/100 — 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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Lower starting pay at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 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 →