History at University of Central Oklahoma

With only a handful of graduates in the sample, these numbers come with a major asterisk, but they suggest University of Central Oklahoma's history program lands in the middle of the pack both nationally and statewide. The $32,127 starting salary beats the national median for history majors by about $900, though it trails Oklahoma's flagship by roughly $7,500. The relatively modest debt load of $22,125 means graduates owe less than seven months of their first-year salary—a manageable ratio that gives them breathing room if they pursue the graduate degrees or public service careers that many history majors choose.

The 24% earnings bump from year one to year four is actually encouraging for a humanities degree, though at $39,699 four years out, these graduates still aren't commanding high salaries. For context, among Oklahoma's history programs, this ranks slightly above the state median. Parents should understand they're looking at a program that serves students well within realistic humanities economics—not stellar, but solid fundamentals with affordable debt. The real limitation here is the tiny sample size, which means one graduate's career path can swing these numbers significantly.

If your student is genuinely passionate about history and understands the financial reality of humanities work, this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But they should have a plan for what comes after the bachelor's degree, since $32,000 won't stretch far as a terminal credential.