History at California State University-Long Beach

Cal State Long Beach's History program demonstrates something unusual: while graduates start low, those who stick with humanities-adjacent careers see substantial income growth. First-year earnings of $25,000 fall in just the 12th percentile nationally—about $6,000 below the national median for history grads. But by year four, earnings jump 75% to nearly $44,000, outpacing most California history programs except flagship public universities and USC.

The favorable $15,000 debt load (among the lowest 5% nationally) makes this trajectory more manageable than it appears. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 drops significantly once the earnings curve kicks in. Against other California schools, this program sits at the median (40th percentile) for earnings, but with debt 8% below the state median. The near-50% Pell Grant enrollment suggests the program serves primarily students for whom low debt matters most.

The tradeoff here is clear: expect lean early years working museum positions, education roles, or continuing to graduate school. But if your child can weather that initial period—perhaps living at home or working multiple jobs—the combination of minimal debt and strong earnings growth creates a more sustainable path than many liberal arts programs. Just recognize they'll likely be earning less than history peers at SDSU or the UCs, at least initially.