History at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green's history program sits right at the state median for debt ($26,000) but stands out for stronger-than-typical earnings growth in Ohio. While graduates start at $30,226—below the national median but well above Ohio's $26,910 state median—they see solid 20% earnings growth by year four, reaching $36,362. That puts this program in the 60th percentile statewide, outperforming many Ohio competitors despite Bowling Green's accessibility (81% admission rate).

The debt picture is reasonable: at 0.86 times first-year earnings, graduates owe less relative to their starting salary than most history majors nationally (31st percentile for debt burden). While initial earnings trail higher-profile state programs like Akron ($32,577) and Cincinnati ($31,217), the trajectory suggests these graduates develop marketable skills over time. The small sample size—under 30 graduates—means individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians.

For Ohio families, this represents a middle-ground option: not the highest-earning history program in the state, but manageable debt and career momentum that suggests graduates find their footing. The key question is whether your student plans to leverage the degree into graduate school or specific careers where that four-year earnings growth continues—or if they'd benefit from starting at one of the higher-earning programs that begin $2,000-3,000 ahead.