Philosophy at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento State's Philosophy program hits the median for California graduates at $29,326, but manages to do so with significantly less debt than most alternatives—about $7,600 below the state average. This puts graduates right in the middle of California's philosophy programs for earnings while ranking in the 90th percentile nationally for keeping debt low. The actual dollar difference matters: you're getting similar outcomes to the state median while borrowing $7,600 less than typical philosophy majors.

The 24% earnings growth from year one to year four ($29,326 to $36,325) suggests reasonable career progression, though philosophy graduates often need time to translate their analytical skills into higher-paying roles. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 is manageable—half a year's salary in debt is relatively easy to service. The program serves a largely middle-income population (49% receive Pell grants) and delivers on the fundamental value proposition of a CSU education: accessible, affordable, and competent.

For families weighing this against UC options, you're looking at comparable first-year outcomes to UC Santa Cruz and UCLA at likely much lower total cost. Unless your child is considering Berkeley or USC (where philosophy grads earn $7,000-$9,000 more), Sacramento State offers solid middle-of-the-pack preparation without the debt burden that often makes humanities degrees feel financially risky.