History at Southern Methodist University

SMU's History program lands right at Texas's median debt level ($23,250) but trails the state's typical earnings by nearly $720 in the first year—placing it in just the 40th percentile among Texas history programs. That's a puzzling outcome for a selective private university where the average SAT sits at 1424. The 63rd percentile nationally sounds more impressive until you realize the national median is depressed by lower-cost public schools; among Texas programs, SMU graduates earn less initially than peers at UT Arlington, Texas A&M, and even regional campuses like UH-Clear Lake (which reports $57,239).

The saving grace here is exceptional income growth—earnings nearly double to $62,508 by year four, suggesting SMU's network and degree prestige eventually deliver value. That trajectory explains the reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. But with only 12% of students receiving Pell grants and a small sample size (under 30 graduates), these figures may reflect a self-selecting group with family resources to pursue graduate school or unpaid internships that pay off later.

For families paying private school tuition, this is a bet on long-term outcomes rather than immediate job market returns. If your child needs to start earning quickly after graduation, Texas public universities offer similar debt with stronger early earnings. If they're planning law school or graduate work where SMU's connections matter, the investment makes more sense.