History at Duke University

Duke's History program produces outcomes that completely redefine what's possible with a humanities degree. Starting at $60,750—nearly double both the national and North Carolina medians—graduates land in the 95th percentile among history programs statewide and nationally. Within four years, earnings jump 38% to nearly $84,000, more than double what typical history majors earn. These aren't just good numbers for humanities; they're competitive with many STEM fields.

The $13,000 median debt tells the other half of the story. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21, graduates owe roughly two months' salary—remarkably low even among Duke's well-resourced student body (87% graduate without Pell grants). While this reflects both institutional aid and family wealth, the outcome remains extraordinary: you're comparing favorably to top NC programs like UNC-Chapel Hill while earning 2.4x more.

The catch? Duke's 7% admission rate means most students simply won't get in, and the lack of socioeconomic diversity suggests these outcomes may partially reflect pre-existing network advantages rather than purely educational value-add. Still, for families who can secure admission and manage costs, this represents arguably the strongest history program outcome in the state—proving that where you study humanities matters enormously for career trajectories.