History at Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus

Ohio University-Chillicothe's History program starts with first-year earnings barely above poverty level, but graduates who stick with their field see dramatic income growth over four years. That initial $24,075 jumps to $41,689—a 73% increase that transforms a seemingly weak outcome into something more defensible. This trajectory matters because many History graduates use their degree as a springboard into careers that take time to build, from education to nonprofit management to government work.

The state context here is important: while this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, it sits at the 40th percentile among Ohio's 63 History programs—essentially middle-of-the-pack for in-state options. The $26,000 debt load matches both state and national medians, meaning students aren't overpaying relative to peers. However, that first year's 1.08 debt-to-earnings ratio indicates a tight financial squeeze immediately after graduation. Top Ohio programs like University of Akron and UC-Cincinnati start graduates around $31,000-$32,000, offering significantly better initial footing.

The calculation here depends on your child's career timeline and financial cushion. If they're planning graduate school or can weather lean early years, that strong earnings curve suggests the degree eventually pays off. But if they need immediate income to service debt, those first 1-2 years could be genuinely difficult. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers are reasonably reliable, though individual outcomes will vary considerably.