History at Anderson University

A $27,000 debt load against first-year earnings around $35,500 creates a manageable ratio of 0.76—though these figures come from comparable Indiana history programs rather than Anderson's own graduate outcomes. That ratio suggests graduates could handle their debt without being overwhelmed, which matters for a humanities degree that rarely leads to immediately high earnings.

The estimated earnings align closely with what similar programs across Indiana produce, placing Anderson in the middle of the pack. Top performers like University of Southern Indiana and Notre Dame report outcomes above $39,000, while IU campuses come in slightly below the state median. For context, history degrees nationally earn a median of $31,220 in the first year, so Indiana programs generally—and by extension, likely Anderson's—outperform that benchmark by several thousand dollars.

The real question is whether a history degree serves your child's specific career plans. If they're considering law school, graduate work, or fields where the liberal arts credential opens doors, the debt-to-earnings picture looks reasonable. If they're expecting immediate career ROI, the modest starting salary could stretch thin in those early years. Given the data limitations here, you'd want to press Anderson's career services office hard about where their history graduates actually land and whether they track outcomes beyond what the government can publish.