History at Crown College

Crown College's history program carries an estimated $26,000 in debt—roughly in line with what liberal arts graduates across the country take on—but the real question is whether the earning potential justifies it. Based on comparable Minnesota history programs, first-year earnings around $39,000 would place this program near the state median, which itself runs about $8,000 above the national figure for history degrees. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 suggests manageable repayment if those earnings hold steady, translating to monthly loan payments that would consume a reasonable share of take-home pay rather than overwhelming it.

The challenge with estimates drawn from just three Minnesota programs is that they mask considerable variation. The University of Minnesota-Duluth reports outcomes over $42,000, while the Twin Cities campus shows $26,000—a $16,000 spread that would dramatically alter the financial calculus. Crown's actual graduates could land anywhere in that range depending on career choices, geographic location after graduation, and the professional networks they build.

For families, this means weighing a likely-manageable debt load against uncertain earnings in a field where outcomes depend heavily on what students do with the degree. If your child plans to pursue teaching, nonprofit work, or graduate school, those lower-end earnings become more relevant. If they're targeting corporate roles or moving to higher-wage markets, the upside looks better. The state comparison is encouraging, but without Crown's actual track record, you're betting on proximity to the Minnesota median rather than proven results.