Bachelor's · South Orange, New Jersey

Is Philosophy at Seton Hall 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 6.1 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $45,358; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $75,863; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $20,018; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $134k (likely $134k – $134k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $36k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NJ; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 6.1 years (likely 4.5–8.2); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: $2k (likely −$114k – $140k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $443k (likely $185k – $758k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 70%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26