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Philosophy & Religion · Philosophy Rank #8 of 77

Philosophyat University of Maryland-College Park

Graduates earn $35,608/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Philosophy average. Base-case 10-year earnings $573K; scenarios range from $515K to $587K depending on AI disruption.

College Park, MD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
40 AVERAGE
40
Optimistic
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,608
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$573K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
65% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park

Your strong outcomes with a Philosophy degree from UMD-College Park reflect the institution's overall academic rigor and its prime location. The DC metro area thrives on critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and ethical reasoning – skills deeply honed by a philosophy curriculum. You’ll find opportunities not just in traditional academic or legal paths, but in government agencies, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and tech companies that value robust analytical capabilities. Many graduates pivot into roles where their logical prowess is applied to management or data-intensive fields, explaining the diverse, high-earning career paths you see. While some roles face AI disruption, your philosophical training in ethics and logic can make you indispensable in navigating these changes, rather than being replaced. To maximize your potential, actively seek internships that apply your analytical skills in a professional setting, perhaps combining your studies with a minor in a quantitative or policy-focused field.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$515K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple11.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$573K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple12.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$587K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple12.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Maryland-College Park's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Philosophy graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Mathematicians
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$121,680/yr
Very High
3
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 4,400 openings/yr
$79,350/yr
High
4
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
+0.7% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$78,050/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Philosophy

How University of Maryland-College Park stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
40
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
29
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
0.2x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
29
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Top score
Utah Valley University
UT · Public
45
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
16.4x
ROI
CUNY Lehman College
NY · Public
43
DW Score
$43K
1-yr earn
13.6x
ROI
Also at University of Maryland-College Park

Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Philosophy at University of Maryland-College Park

What does a 40/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Philosophy at University of Maryland-College Park?

At 40/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Philosophy programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Philosophy at University of Maryland-College Park?

The 64% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.