History at Ohio University-Zanesville Campus

Ohio University-Zanesville's history program starts at a worrying $24,075 in year one—landing in just the 5th percentile nationally and well below Ohio's state median of $26,910. However, this tells only part of the story. By year four, graduates reach $41,689, shooting past both the national median ($31,220) and the state median. This 73% earnings jump suggests graduates may start in transitional roles before landing positions that better utilize their degrees, though that first year could strain finances with debt matching initial earnings nearly 1:1.

Within Ohio, this program sits at the 40th percentile—middle of the pack for the state but trailing schools like Akron and Cincinnati by roughly $8,000 by graduation. The $26,000 debt load is exactly Ohio's median for history programs, so you're not paying a premium, but you're also not seeing the initial earnings boost that top state programs deliver from day one.

The central question is whether your family can weather that difficult first year. If your student has family support or minimal living expenses initially, the four-year outlook becomes respectable. But if they need to be financially self-sufficient immediately after graduation, that $24,075 starting salary in Zanesville—where cost of living helps but doesn't eliminate the gap—creates real pressure that other Ohio programs might better avoid.