History at State University of New York at Cortland

SUNY Cortland's history program starts at a challenging $30,192 in first-year earnings—just above the state median but below the national benchmark—yet demonstrates remarkable momentum with 56% earnings growth by year four, reaching $47,034. This trajectory matters significantly because many history graduates struggle to find immediate career footing, making that rapid climb to nearly $47,000 particularly noteworthy. Among New York's 86 history programs, graduates here land at the 60th percentile, solidly ahead of the state median despite not competing with Columbia or Cornell's elite outcomes.

The $26,000 debt load sits slightly above both state and national medians, but the 0.86 debt-to-earnings ratio offers manageable repayment prospects once graduates navigate that initial year. That first-year figure represents the real vulnerability: at roughly $2,500 monthly, new graduates will need to budget carefully or find supplemental income sources until they reach the stronger earning levels evident by year four.

For families evaluating this program: the payoff is demonstrably there, but it requires patience through a difficult initial period. If your student can weather modest early earnings—perhaps through living at home or a second job—the four-year trajectory suggests they'll reach respectable middle-class earnings, especially considering this comes from an accessible public university with a 51% admission rate rather than a highly selective institution.