History (Bachelor's Degree) at Grace College and Theological Seminary

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,509

Est. from IN median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from IN median (3 programs)

Analysis

Looking at comparable History programs across Indiana, graduates typically earn around $35,500 in their first year—a figure that puts this field near the middle of the pack among liberal arts majors but well below more technical degrees. The estimated $27,000 in debt at Grace College is notably higher than the state median of $23,754, though the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 remains manageable by most standards.

What complicates the picture is the range of outcomes visible across Indiana. Notre Dame and Wabash College History graduates start near $40,000, while IU-Bloomington sits closer to $32,000. Without actual earnings data for Grace College specifically, it's unclear where its graduates land within this spectrum, though the school's 81% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores (1088) suggest outcomes more likely mirror the state median than the top performers.

The practical challenge: $35,500 translates to roughly $2,200 monthly after taxes, making the estimated $270-300 monthly loan payment feasible but tight. If your child plans graduate school (common for History majors), that debt compounds. The safe bet here is viewing a History degree as preparation for a specific career path—teaching, law, public history, graduate school—not as a standalone credential with clear earning power. Without that plan, the investment becomes riskier.

Where Grace College and Theological Seminary Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all history bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

History bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Grace College and Theological SeminaryWinona Lake	$30,034	$35,509*	—	$27,000*	—
University of Southern IndianaEvansville	$10,136	$40,692*	$37,359	$21,629*	0.53
University of Notre DameNotre Dame	$62,693	$39,522*	$63,592	$19,000*	0.48
Wabash CollegeCrawfordsville	$49,125	$39,138*	$51,232	$27,000*	0.69
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington	$11,790	$31,880*	$50,828	$23,754*	0.75
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis	$10,449	$31,526*	$39,661	$27,000*	0.86
National Median	—	$31,220*	—	$24,000*	0.77

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with history graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

History Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Historians

Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

$74,050/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Archivists

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Curators

Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Museum Technicians and Conservators

Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Grace College and Theological Seminary, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.