Philosophy at Rutgers University-Camden

Rutgers-Camden's philosophy program produces graduates who earn substantially more than the typical philosophy major—landing in the 86th percentile nationally with first-year earnings of $40,113 compared to a national median of just $31,652. That $8,000+ premium matters for a humanities degree, especially when paired with relatively modest debt of $25,000 (below the national median for philosophy programs).

The earnings trajectory is particularly encouraging: graduates see their income grow 32% by year four, reaching $53,001. This suggests philosophy majors from Rutgers-Camden are developing marketable skills that translate into career advancement, likely in business, law-related fields, or public sector roles where critical thinking commands higher compensation. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means graduates are borrowing less than eight months of their starting salary—a manageable burden that shouldn't derail other financial goals.

One caveat: within New Jersey, this program performs at the median (60th percentile), essentially matching other Rutgers campuses. The real advantage here is getting strong outcomes at a school with a 78% admission rate and substantial economic diversity (44% Pell recipients). For New Jersey families considering philosophy, Rutgers-Camden offers comparable results to the flagship New Brunswick campus, potentially with better accessibility and lower competition for admission.