Philosophy at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

A $20,287 starting salary for a philosophy degree ranks this program in the bottom 10% both nationally and among North Carolina's philosophy programs—stark underperformance when UNC Chapel Hill's philosophy graduates earn 69% more their first year out. The debt load of $22,527 isn't unusual for philosophy majors, but paired with these earnings, it creates a nearly 1:1 debt-to-income ratio that will strain any graduate's budget. For context, NC's median philosophy graduate earns $29,251, making UNCG's outcome $9,000 below the state baseline.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, so there's legitimate uncertainty about whether this pattern holds. However, a first-year salary of $20,287 barely exceeds what many full-time retail positions offer, raising questions about whether the degree itself is opening doors or if graduates are taking jobs that don't require their credential. Philosophy can be excellent preparation for law school or graduate study, but as a standalone bachelor's degree from this program, the immediate financial return appears deeply problematic.

If your student is set on philosophy, push them to consider stronger-performing programs within the UNC system. If UNCG is the destination for cost or personal reasons, they should have a concrete plan for what comes after—graduate school, a specific career path, or marketable complementary skills—because this degree alone isn't generating economic momentum.