History at Roanoke College

Roanoke College history graduates start at just $25,940—roughly $6,400 below Virginia's median for history majors and ranking in the bottom quarter statewide. With $27,000 in debt, new graduates face over a year of earnings before they could theoretically pay off their loans, a challenging position when rent and living expenses leave little room for aggressive repayment. Compare this to nearby programs: Hampden-Sydney and VMI graduates earn $42,000+ right out of the gate, nearly double Roanoke's first-year figure.

The trajectory improves dramatically—earnings jump 81% to nearly $47,000 by year four, eventually surpassing some of those higher-starting programs. This suggests graduates may be taking lower-paying entry positions (nonprofits, teaching assistantships, or graduate school transitions) before moving into more established careers. However, the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so these numbers could shift significantly with different cohorts.

For a family paying private college tuition, this represents a tough initial return on investment. If your child has graduate school plans or views the bachelor's as a stepping stone rather than a terminal degree, the growth pattern offers some reassurance. But families seeking immediate financial independence after graduation should seriously weigh in-state public options like Longwood or Old Dominion, where graduates start $10,000+ higher with similar debt loads.