Master's · Washington, District of Columbia

Is Philosophy at American University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 16.9 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $59,363; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $88,371; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $49,691; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Typical borrowing (no graduate net price is published): $53k (likely $53k – $53k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $3k a year vs bachelor's graduates 4 years out in DC; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 16.9 years (likely 7.8–20+); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$259k (likely −$395k – −$127k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: −$146k (likely −$452k – $145k); Today's dollars

Scorecard reports no net price for graduate programs; cost is based on what graduates typically borrowed.