History at Texas State University

Texas State's history program outperforms most peers despite serving a remarkably accessible student body. At $37,741 after one year, graduates earn more than 82% of history programs nationally and rank solidly in the middle of Texas options—a strong showing considering the university's 89% admission rate and significant Pell grant population. The $23,973 debt load sits right at national and state norms, creating a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio that improves as salaries grow 21% by year four.

What makes this particularly compelling is the context: Texas State delivers comparable outcomes to far more selective institutions while maintaining broad access. Yes, top earners from UT Arlington or University of Houston-Clear Lake make $7,000-$20,000 more, but those programs likely draw from different student pools. For families seeking an affordable humanities education with practical post-graduation prospects, Texas State threads a difficult needle—its history graduates earn well above the national median for the field while taking on typical debt levels.

The trajectory matters here too. That 21% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests graduates find their footing in the job market rather than plateauing immediately. For a student genuinely drawn to history rather than chasing maximum starting salaries, this represents solid preparation at a price point that won't require abandoning their interests for purely financial majors.