Philosophy at Ball State University
IN · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 38.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Philosophy degree from Ball State University earn a median salary of $45,946 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $50,825. The degree typically pays for itself in 20.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$35,298
Typical Career
$45,946
Top Performers
$58,920
Estimated break-even: 20.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$306
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,829. Most students can comfortably afford about a $306 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Indiana buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$50,825
Nominal: $45,946 in Indiana (COL 90.4% of national avg) · 10.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $18,757 | $27,979 | $37,198 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $35,298 | $45,946 | $58,920 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $34,840 | $50,227 | $91,987 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $45,946 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IN, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.4% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $45,946 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9040)
= $50,825 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for Philosophy graduates include Educational Services (19.4%), Health Care & Social Assistance (17.3%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (11.9%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 20.1 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for a Philosophy degree may be considered moderate. While the degree offers valuable skills applicable in various sectors, prospective students should weigh the time required to recoup educational costs against their career aspirations.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Philosophy degree at Ball State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.