History at Emmanuel College

Emmanuel College's History program shows first-year earnings of $28,695—not only below the national median, but landing in just the 25th percentile among Massachusetts history programs. That's roughly $5,400 less than what history graduates typically earn across the state, and nearly $18,000 below what peers at UMass-Boston command. Even accounting for Boston's high living costs, these starting wages will stretch thin.

The moderate debt load of $27,000 creates a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe almost as much as they'll earn in their first year. This isn't catastrophic—the debt figure is actually quite reasonable compared to national averages—but paired with below-market earnings, the financial pressure becomes real. Massachusetts has numerous stronger-performing history programs, including several public universities where graduates launch with $15,000-$20,000 more in earning power.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. Still, for a family paying private school tuition in expensive Boston, you'd want to see returns closer to the state median. If your student is set on history at a smaller college, have candid conversations about career planning and whether the Emmanuel community offers networking advantages that might offset the initial earnings gap.