History at Loras College

In Iowa, history programs show a broad earnings range—from around $28,000 to over $41,000 in first-year salaries—and Loras appears to position somewhere in the middle based on what similar programs typically produce. The estimated $36,400 first-year earnings matches the state median and exceeds the national benchmark of $31,200, suggesting graduates enter a reasonably competitive regional job market. With an estimated debt load of roughly $26,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 stays below the concerning 1.0 threshold, meaning a year's salary should cover the total borrowing.

What complicates the assessment here is that both figures come from peer programs rather than Loras's own track record—earnings from four other Iowa history programs, debt from similar private colleges nationally. This creates meaningful uncertainty about whether Loras students actually achieve these outcomes. The 92% admission rate and moderate Pell Grant enrollment suggest broad accessibility, but without knowing how the college specifically supports liberal arts graduates into employment, you're essentially betting on the general performance of Iowa history programs rather than this institution's proven results.

If your child is considering Loras for history, treat these numbers as a best-case scenario based on regional patterns. Probe the career services office directly: ask for actual job placement data, alumni outcomes, and what support exists for the transition from humanities degree to employment. The fundamentals appear reasonable for a history degree, but you need institution-specific information to judge whether this particular program delivers.