Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 6 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education pays
Career outlook for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates
The job market for the occupations Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education teachers, postsecondary | 74,900 | +2.1% | $72,090 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education vs similar majors
How Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education stacks up against the closest fields in Education on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Education · this major | Educational Administration and Supervision | International and Comparative Education | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 70 B | 77 B | 72 B | 73 B |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $77,056 | $80,022 | $75,621 | $74,787 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $54,749 | $68,314 | $57,925 | $54,513 |
| ROI vs cost | +254% | +310% | +255% | +250% |
| Typical debt | $50,612 | $36,853 | $39,156 | $36,190 |
| Colleges offering it | 6 | 559 | 5 | 9 |
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | Master's | $92,925 | — | +1,569% | Strong return |
| 2 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | Certificate | $74,818 | — | +614% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | Certificate | $65,073 | — | +250% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO | Certificate | $69,088 | — | +138% | Strong return |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Certificate | $76,293 | $50,612 | +132% | Strong return |
| 6 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NY | Certificate | $84,141 | — | — | Not enough data |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.