History at University of Central Florida

UCF's history program outperforms 60% of Florida programs in a state where history grads typically earn less than the national average. With first-year earnings of $34,335 and a manageable debt load of $21,965, graduates start ahead of their in-state peers—only the University of Miami places history majors higher in Florida. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 means graduates owe less than eight months of their first year's salary, a reasonable burden that becomes easier to manage as earnings climb to $38,679 by year four.

The trajectory here matters: that 13% earnings growth shows UCF history graduates aren't plateauing early in their careers. While these aren't engineering salaries, they're solid for a liberal arts degree, especially considering UCF's 40% admission rate makes it accessible to a broad range of students. The program's 67th percentile national ranking suggests UCF's location in Orlando's growing job market and the university's connections are paying dividends for humanities majors.

For parents concerned about ROI, this is about as good as a history degree gets in Florida without paying University of Miami's premium tuition. The debt is contained, the earnings beat state norms, and the career progression is steady. If your child is passionate about history and planning to stay in Florida, this program offers a practical pathway without sacrificing academic interest.