Location: Cullowhee, NC•In-State Tuition: $4,532•Out-of-State Tuition: $8,532•Admission Rate: 87%•Avg SAT: 1151
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$29,251
Est. from NC median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,527
Est. from NC median (5 programs)

Where Western Carolina University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all philosophy bachelors's programs nationally

Western Carolina University (estimated ±10%)Other philosophy programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Western Carolina University—$36,840—
University of Pennsylvania$73,053$90,761+24%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$37,885$63,360+67%
University of Maryland-College Park$35,608$60,654+70%
University of Florida$24,048$55,986+133%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Philosophy bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee$4,532$29,251*$36,840$22,527*—
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill$8,989$34,284*—$15,408*0.45
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte$7,214$29,251*—$25,000*0.85
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro$7,593$20,287*—$22,527*1.11
National Median—$31,652*—$22,641*0.72
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with philosophy graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematicians

Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Western Carolina University, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.