History at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU's History program produces graduates who see strong income growth, jumping from $33,000 to $43,500 over four years—a 32% increase that outpaces what most humanities degrees deliver. While the starting salary sits right at Louisiana's median for history majors, that fourth-year figure of $43,500 represents genuine career momentum. The $18,625 in debt is meaningful but manageable at roughly half of first-year earnings, and notably lower than what history majors typically leave with ($24,000 nationally).

What's particularly encouraging here is that LSU history graduates don't just match their in-state peers—they outpace them by year four. Southeastern Louisiana's history majors start at similar salaries but we don't see evidence of the same upward trajectory. At 60th percentile both nationally and within Louisiana, this program sits firmly in the middle tier, which for a liberal arts degree translates to reasonable outcomes rather than the concerning patterns we often see at the bottom quartile.

For families worried about a history major's job prospects, LSU demonstrates what matters most: not just the starting point, but whether graduates can build careers with real earning power. The combination of below-average debt and above-average earning growth makes this a solid choice among Louisiana's history programs, though parents should understand their student will likely need to be strategic about internships and career planning to reach that four-year earning potential.