History at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech's history program produces graduates who significantly outperform the field nationally—ranking in the 85th percentile—while keeping debt manageable at $22,250. First-year earnings of $38,687 beat the national median by nearly $7,500, putting graduates ahead of roughly 85% of history programs across the country. The debt burden sits comfortably below one year's salary, suggesting graduates can realistically manage repayment while establishing their careers.

Within Texas, the picture is more nuanced. Tech's history grads earn solidly in the middle of the pack (60th percentile), trailing programs like UT Arlington and Texas A&M by several thousand dollars annually. Still, the 28% earnings jump from year one to year four—reaching nearly $50,000—demonstrates that Tech graduates gain traction in the job market as they build experience. This growth trajectory matters more than starting salary for humanities degrees, where early earnings rarely tell the full story.

For families concerned about the practicality of a history degree, this program offers reassurance. The combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings—especially compared to history programs nationwide—makes this a viable path. Your graduate won't be at the top of Texas's history earning scale, but they'll start with significantly better prospects than most history majors nationally and reasonable debt to manage while they build their career.