History at Oakland City University

A bachelor's in History at Oakland City would mean borrowing an estimated $27,000—above both Indiana's median for the major ($23,754) and the national median ($24,000). Peer programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $35,500, which puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.76. That's manageable on paper, but it's worth noting that several Indiana schools with reported data show their history graduates earning $39,000 to $40,000 in their first year, creating a gap of roughly $4,000 annually compared to the state median that Oakland City's estimates are based on.

The national picture for history degrees is sobering regardless of where you earn one: the median starting salary of $31,220 reflects limited immediate career pathways for most graduates without additional credentials or graduate school. Oakland City's estimated outcomes sit slightly above this national baseline, consistent with Indiana's stronger performance overall in this field. However, with no actual graduate data published for this specific program due to small cohort sizes, you're making decisions based on what similar Indiana programs typically produce rather than what Oakland City's own graduates have achieved.

The practical question is whether your student plans to use this degree as a stepping stone to law school, teaching certification, or graduate studies—contexts where the credential matters more than immediate earnings. If they're expecting the bachelor's alone to launch a career, the estimated $27,000 debt burden starts looking heavier given the limited entry-level opportunities in the field itself.