History at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Cal Poly Humboldt's history program shows troubling first-year earnings of just $20,972—barely above minimum wage and ranking in the bottom 5% nationally. Even among California's history programs, it lands at just the 25th percentile. The bright spot is dramatic earnings growth to nearly $40,000 by year four, but that's still $6,000 below the state median. With a sample size under 30 graduates, these numbers could shift significantly, but the pattern suggests many graduates spend their early twenties in retail or service jobs before finding their footing.

The $15,000 debt load is actually lower than both state and national medians, which matters given those first-year earnings. Still, when you're making $21,000, even modest debt feels heavy. The 99% admission rate and high Pell Grant enrollment (46%) indicate this serves students with fewer alternatives, but compare these outcomes to nearby UC Santa Cruz, where history majors earn $33,000, or San Diego State at $38,000.

If your child is passionate about history and considering graduate school, this might work as an affordable stepping stone. But for someone expecting a bachelor's degree alone to launch their career, the early earnings gap is substantial. The small sample size means individual circumstances vary widely—some graduates may do far better—but on average, this program struggles to deliver competitive outcomes in California's job market.