History at Rhodes College

Rhodes College's History program produces first-year earnings of $29,279 against $23,104 in debt—numbers that look modest nationally but tell a different story within Tennessee. While this places the program in just the 36th percentile nationally, it hits the state median exactly and ranks in the 60th percentile among Tennessee history programs. That's a meaningful distinction, since most Rhodes students will be competing for jobs in the regional market where these earnings are closer to the norm.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 is reasonable for a humanities degree, meaning graduates owe less than one year's salary. However, the small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few outliers. It's worth noting that Rhodes sits in a competitive Tennessee market where state schools like Middle Tennessee State and Austin Peay produce history graduates earning $34,000-$35,000 annually—about 20% more than Rhodes—often with lower debt loads given public school tuition advantages.

For families paying private school tuition at a selective liberal arts college (50% admission rate, 1385 average SAT), the value calculus depends heavily on financial aid. The low Pell grant percentage (15%) suggests Rhodes primarily serves affluent families who may be less debt-sensitive. If your child is receiving substantial aid that brings total debt near this $23,000 figure, the investment is defensible for the liberal arts experience. At full freight, though, public alternatives offer better financial outcomes.