History at Missouri State University-Springfield

Missouri State's history program produces graduates earning just under $28,000 their first year out—roughly $3,300 below the national median for history majors. But here's the surprising context: among Missouri history programs, this actually lands in the 60th percentile. The state's history graduates generally struggle, with the median barely reaching $27,400. Missouri State essentially delivers typical outcomes for the state, though Columbia College's grads earn nearly $13,000 more annually.

The debt picture offers genuine relief. At $27,000, graduates here carry slightly less than both state and national medians, landing in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.97 means students borrow roughly one year's salary—manageable territory for a humanities degree, even with those modest starting salaries. This accessible, open-admission university (91% acceptance rate) isn't loading students with excessive debt for their career prospects.

The critical caveat: this data represents fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers potentially volatile year-to-year. That said, if your student is set on studying history in Missouri and staying in-state, this program's combination of middling debt and middle-of-the-pack state earnings makes it a reasonable option—just not one likely to surprise on the upside financially.