History at Lander University

Lander University's History program beats both national and South Carolina medians for first-year earnings, ranking in the 78th percentile nationally and 60th in-state—solid performance for a program that typically leads to modest starting salaries. At $36,613, graduates earn about $6,400 more than the typical South Carolina history major and $5,400 more than the national average, while carrying $21,297 in debt that's notably below both state and national figures.

The concerning element is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their pay slip to $34,464 by year four, a 6% decline that's unusual and worth investigating. This could reflect the small sample size (under 30 graduates) creating statistical noise, or it might signal challenges in career advancement or job retention. Still, even at the four-year mark, earnings remain competitive with state peers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 suggests graduates can manage their loans, which are roughly $4,200 less than typical South Carolina history majors carry.

For families concerned about ROI in the humanities, this program offers a reasonable entry point—lower debt than most alternatives and earnings that start strong relative to the field. The sample size limitation means these numbers might shift with more data, but the fundamentals look manageable for students committed to history who want to stay in South Carolina.