History at Illinois State University

Illinois State's History program outperforms 92% of similar programs nationally with first-year earnings of $40,465—nearly $10,000 above the national median for history majors. That's a significant advantage for a program at an accessible public university with an 89% admission rate. The debt load of $23,125 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 that most financial advisors would consider healthy. Graduates see steady income growth, earning $44,568 by year four, which suggests the degree opens doors beyond entry-level positions.

Within Illinois, the picture is more competitive but still favorable. The program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide—solid middle ground that trails the elite privates like Northwestern and University of Chicago but leads many other options. It notably edges out larger state schools like UIS while costing less in debt than the $24,000 national median. The robust sample size (100+ graduates tracked) makes these numbers reliable, not flukes from a small cohort.

For families weighing a humanities degree, this represents one of the stronger bets available. Your child gets earnings potential that rivals some professional programs at other schools, without taking on crushing debt. The combination of accessibility, reasonable cost, and above-average outcomes makes this a practical choice for students genuinely interested in history.