History at Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay's history program outperforms most Tennessee public universities despite serving a largely working-class student body. Graduates earn $39,052 four years out—beating the state median by 33% and landing in the 60th percentile among Tennessee programs. Only Middle Tennessee State comes close among comparable public institutions. The $19,750 debt load sits right at the state median, creating a manageable 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio that students can realistically handle.

The 13% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates find their footing in the job market, though the climb is gradual rather than dramatic. That first-year salary of $34,456 still clears the national median for history majors by $3,200, which matters when you're starting to chip away at loans. For a program at an open-access institution where nearly half the students receive Pell grants, these outcomes demonstrate solid value.

The caveat: fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, so individual circumstances could swing these numbers significantly. But if your child is drawn to history and wants to stay in Tennessee, this program delivers competitive results at a fraction of the debt you'd incur at Vanderbilt, which leads the state but costs considerably more to attend.