History at Marquette University

Marquette's history program punches above its weight, delivering first-year earnings of $36,907—well above both the national median ($31,220) and Wisconsin's state median ($32,594). While the school's 87% admission rate might suggest accessibility over selectivity, graduates from this program outperform those from 79% of history programs nationwide. The debt load of $19,500 is notably lower than typical for this major (national median: $24,000), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 that positions graduates to manage payments comfortably on a humanities salary.

The earnings trajectory is particularly encouraging, with graduates seeing 36% income growth by year four to reach $50,050. This puts Marquette ahead of most Wisconsin competitors except UW-Whitewater, despite those state schools typically offering lower tuition for in-state students. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these figures are reasonably reliable, though not as robust as data from larger programs.

For families concerned about the financial return on a liberal arts degree, this program demonstrates that history majors can achieve solid earnings with manageable debt. The combination of below-average borrowing and above-average starting salaries makes this one of the stronger history programs in Wisconsin from a pure ROI perspective, particularly for students who value Marquette's Jesuit educational approach alongside financial outcomes.