Philosophy at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
25
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,936/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (15,000 openings/yr)
ROI
8.5x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)
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 | $422K | $433K | $420K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.3x | 8.5x | 8.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.0x | 3.1x | 3.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 44% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 25 | 25 | 20 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,752
Out-of-state: $139,736 (3.1x ROI)
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$30,831
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
With a 61% acceptance rate, University of South Carolina-Columbia is moderately selective, serving a student body of 28,113 in Columbia, SC.
See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Mathematicians
$121,680/yr
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
$79,350/yr
Compare & Explore
Philosophy at Other Schools
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Philosophy program score?
This program scores 25/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →