History at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's history program shows middling outcomes among state options, though these numbers come from a small sample that may not reflect typical graduate experiences. The $28,295 starting salary lands below both the state median ($29,490) and national average ($31,220), putting graduates in the bottom third nationally. However, the $21,469 debt load is actually more manageable than both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76—meaning graduates owe less than a year's starting salary.

The 18% earnings growth to $33,353 by year four suggests steadier momentum than the raw numbers imply, and Mississippi State's relatively low debt helps offset the modest starting point. Still, at 40th percentile among Mississippi history programs, this doesn't represent the strongest in-state option—the University of Southern Mississippi, for instance, shows higher starting earnings with comparable debt.

For families prioritizing affordability in a history degree, Mississippi State delivers reasonable value through manageable debt rather than exceptional earnings. But the small sample size is crucial: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these figures significantly. Parents should view this as preliminary rather than definitive data, especially when comparing against larger programs with more stable outcome patterns.