History at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's history program starts slow but shows impressive recovery: first-year earnings of just $28,862 jump 52% to nearly $44,000 by year four. That's substantially better than the national median by year four, though it requires patience through a difficult first year. However, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Arizona's seven history programs—significantly trailing ASU, U of A, and Grand Canyon, where graduates earn $10,000-$15,000 more right out of the gate.

The debt picture adds another wrinkle. At $21,250, graduates carry less than the state median, but that still means nearly nine months of first-year earnings go toward loan payments during those lean early years. The 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable only if your child can weather that initial period, likely through family support or additional income sources. By year four, when earnings nearly double, the financial picture brightens considerably.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your child can afford to earn $10,000-$15,000 less than peers at other Arizona schools during those crucial first years. The eventual earnings growth is real, but competing Arizona programs offer both higher starting salaries and stronger early trajectories. Unless cost of attendance at NAU is significantly lower, other in-state options provide a clearer path to financial stability.