History at Rider University

Rider University's history graduates earn nearly $15,000 more than the typical history major nationally—and about $14,000 more than the New Jersey state median. That 95th percentile national ranking isn't a typo, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift with more data. Still, outperforming 80% of New Jersey history programs while charging just $27,000 in median debt suggests something is working here, whether it's career services, alumni networks, or simply a program that attracts students with strong professional ambitions.

The debt load is remarkably reasonable—below 95% of similar programs nationally and nearly identical to state norms. A 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary, which is manageable territory for a humanities degree. Earnings grow modestly to $48,000 by year four, keeping pace with Monmouth's higher-profile program and trailing only Princeton among major New Jersey schools.

The caveat matters: small sample sizes can produce misleading outliers, so these numbers might not hold if Rider's program scales up or if future cohorts have different career outcomes. But if you're paying in-state tuition or comparable costs, a history degree that delivers near $50,000 in earnings with under $30,000 in debt beats most alternatives. Just verify that recent graduates' outcomes align with this data before committing.