History at Indiana University-Bloomington

IU-Bloomington history graduates start behind other Indiana programs—earning about $3,600 less than the state median in year one and landing at just the 40th percentile statewide—but experience remarkable earnings growth of 59% by year four, ultimately pulling ahead of both state and national benchmarks. While University of Southern Indiana and Notre Dame history grads initially out-earn IU-Bloomington by nearly $8,000, that gap narrows substantially as IU alumni advance into higher-paying positions mid-career.

The debt picture is reasonable: $23,754 represents less than a year's starting salary, and it's exactly at Indiana's median for history programs. Combined with IU-Bloomington's relatively accessible 80% admission rate, this creates a viable path for students who can stomach lower initial earnings in exchange for stronger career momentum.

The critical question is whether your child can navigate those first few years when earnings lag behind peers at other Indiana schools. History majors typically need graduate degrees or strategic pivots to reach higher income levels, and IU-Bloomington's pattern suggests their graduates are doing exactly that. If your student has realistic expectations about starting salaries and a plan for building marketable skills beyond the major itself, this trajectory makes sense—but families banking on immediate post-graduation income should look at the numbers carefully.