History at DePaul University

DePaul's history graduates start modestly at $36,889 but see strong earnings growth to $48,623 by year four—a 32% jump that outpaces most liberal arts programs. While the school ranks solidly in the 60th percentile among Illinois history programs, it's worth noting the starting salary lands below regional competitors like Illinois State ($40,465) and even some smaller state schools. However, the $27,000 debt burden is exceptionally manageable, placing in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of history programs leave students with more debt.

The real story here is trajectory combined with affordability. That first-year salary won't impress anyone, but nearly $49,000 by year four represents genuine career momentum, and the debt load won't constrain early-career choices the way $40,000+ in loans would. For a humanities degree from a private Chicago university, this represents reasonable value, particularly for students who need the accessibility of DePaul's 74% admission rate but want better outcomes than most history programs deliver.

One significant caveat: the sample size is small, meaning these figures could swing considerably year to year. For families comfortable with that uncertainty and prioritizing low debt over immediate earning power, this works. Those expecting DePaul to compete with Northwestern ($50,161) or University of Chicago will be disappointed.