Philosophy at San Diego State University

San Diego State's philosophy program shows first-year earnings of $29,712—below the national median but above California's state median, placing it in the 60th percentile among California philosophy programs. That's a respectable middle-ground position in a notoriously competitive state where UC Berkeley and USC dominate the top spots with earnings in the high $30,000s.

The real story here is the debt picture. At $27,000, graduates carry significantly more debt than California's median of $15,832 for philosophy majors. This matters because while the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 looks manageable on paper, philosophy graduates often face a longer runway to career earnings growth. Starting at under $30,000 with $27,000 in debt means roughly a year's salary going to loans—tight but not catastrophic, especially compared to programs with ratios above 1.5.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than typical program data. If your student is genuinely passionate about philosophy and understands it's a gateway degree requiring strategic career planning (not a direct vocational path), SDSU offers adequate preparation at a state-school price point. But if they're undecided or treating philosophy as a default liberal arts choice, the below-average national earnings and above-average California debt should prompt serious conversation about career planning and whether a less expensive in-state option might serve them better.