History at Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University's history program graduates start at $32,149—about average nationally but trailing most Illinois history programs. Among the state's 47 history programs, this lands in the 40th percentile, meaning 60% of Illinois schools see their history graduates earn more. The gap is particularly stark when comparing to Illinois State ($40,465) or even nearby regional competitors like Northeastern Illinois ($39,102). While these graduates earn slightly more than the national median for history majors, Illinois families might reasonably expect stronger outcomes given in-state alternatives.

The financial picture isn't dire—$21,500 in debt translates to a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio, and earnings do grow 18% to $37,794 by year four. That trajectory matters for a field where graduate school often precedes career-level earnings. The 68% admission rate and relatively accessible profile (1010 SAT) suggests this serves students who might not access Northwestern's $50,000+ outcomes but still want a traditional university experience.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it statistically unreliable. A single graduate landing a high-paying job or several pursuing unpaid internships could dramatically skew these numbers either direction. For families committed to history at a regional public university, EIU won't bury students in debt, but the Illinois data suggests shopping around—especially at schools like Illinois State—could yield meaningfully better employment prospects without significantly higher costs.