History at Allegheny College

Allegheny College's history program shows troubling first-year outcomes that place it near the bottom of both Pennsylvania and national rankings, though the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these figures may not be representative. Starting at just $20,713, graduates earn about $10,000 less than the typical Pennsylvania history graduate and rank in the 10th percentile statewide. Even accomplished history programs rarely command high starting salaries, but this gap is substantial when every Pennsylvania school in the top tier—from Penn to Temple—delivers at least $33,000 in first-year earnings.

The 93% earnings jump to $40,033 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, but that initial period matters enormously for managing the $27,000 in debt (matching the state median). A debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.30 means new graduates face debt exceeding their annual income by 30%, making those first years particularly tight financially. By comparison, stronger Pennsylvania programs start their graduates at income levels that make the same debt load far more manageable from day one.

Given the small sample and bottom-decile performance, parents should view this data as a red flag worth investigating further. If your student is set on Allegheny, understanding why these particular graduates struggled initially—and whether the college has changed its career support since—becomes essential before committing.