History at Portland State University

Portland State's history program sits in a challenging spot: while $31,000 in debt isn't catastrophic for a bachelor's degree, the first-year earnings of just $24,612 create a tough financial start. This program ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for earnings, though it's closer to the middle (40th percentile) among Oregon's 18 history programs. That state context matters—this isn't an outlier for the region, but Oregon history grads generally earn less than the national median.

The 41% earnings growth to $34,635 by year four shows meaningful improvement, but even that puts graduates below the national median. Compare this to Oregon State's history grads, who start at $34,589—essentially where PSU grads arrive after four years. With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially, making that debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.26 particularly consequential.

If your child is passionate about history and plans to stay in Portland (where cost of living is high), consider whether they need this degree specifically or if they could pursue history as a minor while majoring in something with stronger earnings. The financial picture here requires either graduate school, a career pivot, or family financial support during those early years.