History at Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University's History program outperforms most Tennessee public universities while keeping debt notably lower than typical humanities programs. At $35,391 first-year earnings, it ranks in the 60th percentile statewide and 73rd percentile nationally—ahead of higher-profile UT-Knoxville and nearly matching Austin Peay, despite MTSU's more accessible admission profile. The $18,500 debt load is roughly $5,500 below the national median for history degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 that's manageable even on early-career humanities salaries.

The modest 4% earnings growth over four years is characteristic of history degrees generally, which tend to plateau unless graduates pursue graduate school or pivot into higher-paying adjacent fields. This isn't unique to MTSU—it's the national pattern for the major. What matters here is the starting point: graduates are entering the workforce with roughly half the debt they'd carry at many comparable schools while earning more than 60% of Tennessee history graduates.

For families concerned about humanities degree affordability, this program demonstrates solid value. The combination of below-average debt and above-average early earnings creates breathing room that many history graduates elsewhere don't have. Just understand that significant salary growth typically requires additional credentials or career shifts beyond the bachelor's degree itself.