History at Emory University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers suggest Emory's History graduates face a rougher start than you might expect from a school with an 11% admission rate. At $33,710, first-year earnings barely exceed the national median for history majors, and within Georgia, this program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—well behind University of North Georgia ($38,226) and even University of West Georgia. For context, students receiving Pell grants make up just 18% of Emory's student body, indicating most families are paying near full freight at one of the country's most selective institutions.

The trajectory improves substantially: four years out, earnings jump to $50,737, representing 51% growth and suggesting that Emory's network and credential eventually open doors. The debt burden is actually manageable at $21,000—lower than both state and national medians—though that figure likely reflects family wealth more than institutional generosity. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means graduates can realistically handle repayment even during those lean early years.

The real question for your family is whether Emory's long-term outcomes justify its full cost of attendance. These earnings figures only tell part of the story, and with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, individual experiences likely vary widely. If your student qualifies for substantial financial aid, the investment makes more sense; at full price, the early-career returns don't immediately distinguish Emory from far less expensive Georgia public universities.