History at Columbia College

Columbia College's History program outearns every other history program in Missouri—including flagship universities—while carrying relatively modest debt. Starting at over $40,000, graduates earn nearly 50% more than the typical Missouri history major and land in the 90th percentile nationally, an unusual outcome for a humanities degree at a smaller institution.

The $29,700 in median debt sits slightly above the national average but well below Missouri's typical history graduate debt load. More importantly, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 means graduates owe less than a year's salary, a manageable position that many liberal arts programs struggle to achieve. While earnings remain essentially flat from year one to year four, starting at $40,000 rather than needing to grow into it matters more for loan repayment and early career stability.

The data reflects a moderate sample size, so individual outcomes will vary, but the pattern is clear: this program punches well above its weight. For families concerned about the financial viability of a history degree, Columbia College appears to have built strong employer connections or graduate school placement that translates into genuinely better outcomes than larger, better-known institutions in the state. The 44% Pell Grant enrollment suggests these results aren't simply a function of wealthy student networks.