History at The Catholic University of America

A debt load of $26,000 paired with estimated first-year earnings around $44,000 creates a manageable financial foundation for Catholic University's history graduates. While the school doesn't report sufficient graduate outcomes to meet DOE thresholds, data from comparable DC history programs—including Georgetown, American, and George Washington—suggests earnings in the $39,000-$50,000 range are typical for the region. The $26,000 debt figure sits just above the national median for history programs but remains well within reasonable bounds, with graduates likely earning enough to handle payments without severe strain.

The four-year earnings jump to $50,000 indicates solid mid-career trajectory, though this reflects the actual experience of Catholic University graduates who stuck with their program long enough to report. DC's concentration of museums, federal agencies, and nonprofits provides more opportunities for history majors than most cities, which helps explain why the capital's history graduates substantially outpace the $31,000 national median. The university's 84% admission rate and relatively low Pell enrollment (17%) suggest a student body with above-average resources, which may ease the transition from college to career.

For families willing to accept some uncertainty around precise outcomes, the fundamentals here look reasonable: moderate debt, earnings estimates grounded in a strong local market, and four-year data showing real graduates reaching $50,000. The risk lies in not knowing whether Catholic University's specific program performs at the top or bottom of that DC range.