Bachelor's · Richmond, Virginia

Is Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth 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 in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 6 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $35,448; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $69,176; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $19,750; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $106k (likely $106k – $140k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $31k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in VA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 6 years (likely 4.4–8.8); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$26k (likely −$148k – $98k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $349k (likely $99k – $632k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 65%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26