History (Bachelor's Degree) at Saint Mary's College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,509

Est. from IN median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from IN median (3 programs)

Analysis

A debt load of $27,000 for a bachelor's degree in history is manageable if you're realistic about the financial trajectory. Based on similar programs at Indiana liberal arts colleges, first-year earnings around $35,500 suggest graduates are finding work—though often in fields like education, nonprofits, or administration rather than traditional history careers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 means your child would owe roughly three-quarters of their first year's salary, which is reasonable compared to many humanities degrees, but it requires careful budgeting in those early years.

What matters more than these peer-program estimates is where your child plans to take this degree. History majors who pursue teaching certification, law school, or graduate programs in public history or archival work often see stronger earnings growth over time. Those who graduate without a clear next step may struggle more, particularly given that $27,000 in debt will require monthly payments around $300 for ten years. Saint Mary's 81% admission rate and relatively accessible price point make it a solid option for students who genuinely love history and have thought through their post-graduation plans, but this isn't a degree that typically unlocks high early earnings on its own merit.

Where Saint Mary's College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all history bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

History bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Saint Mary's CollegeNotre Dame	$51,430	$35,509*	—	$27,000*	—
University of Southern IndianaEvansville	$10,136	$40,692*	$37,359	$21,629*	0.53
University of Notre DameNotre Dame	$62,693	$39,522*	$63,592	$19,000*	0.48
Wabash CollegeCrawfordsville	$49,125	$39,138*	$51,232	$27,000*	0.69
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington	$11,790	$31,880*	$50,828	$23,754*	0.75
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis	$10,449	$31,526*	$39,661	$27,000*	0.86
National Median	—	$31,220*	—	$24,000*	0.77

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with history graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

History Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Historians

Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

$74,050/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Archivists

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Curators

Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Museum Technicians and Conservators

Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Saint Mary's College, approximately 24% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.