Philosophy at Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University's philosophy program reports impressive numbers—$43,699 in first-year earnings against just $15,636 in debt—but the small graduating cohort (under 30 students) means these figures could swing dramatically year to year. That said, even accounting for volatility, the fundamentals look unusually strong for a philosophy degree. Graduates here earn 38% more than the national median for philosophy majors ($31,652) and carry 31% less debt than typical philosophy graduates. The 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio is genuinely excellent, meaning graduates owe roughly four months' salary rather than the eight to twelve months common in many humanities programs.

The state comparison is harder to interpret since Utah only has seven schools offering philosophy degrees, and UVU's numbers exactly match the state median—suggesting limited meaningful differentiation within Utah. What matters more is the national context: this program ranks in the 95th percentile for earnings among philosophy programs nationwide, which is remarkable for a regional public university. The most likely explanation is that UVU's philosophy graduates supplement their degree with marketable skills or minors, or they're entering Utah's relatively strong job market with lower cost-of-living advantages.

For parents worried about the stereotypical "philosophy major in a coffee shop" outcome, this data suggests UVU graduates are avoiding that fate. Just remember these numbers could look different with next year's cohort.