History at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

This History program shows strong earnings relative to the field nationally but sits in the middle of Colorado's competitive landscape. At $38,627 in the first year, graduates here earn nearly $7,400 more than the typical History major nationwide and roughly $1,700 above Colorado's median. However, Metropolitan State University of Denver produces History grads earning $4,000 more annually, suggesting there are better options even within the Denver metro area.

The debt load of $23,750 is reasonable—matching both state and national medians—and translates to a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about seven months of gross earnings, which is sustainable for a humanities degree. The slight earnings dip to $37,511 by year four is worth noting, though with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, this could reflect individual career paths rather than a systematic pattern.

For a parent whose child is passionate about History and considering UC Denver's accessible 78% admission rate, this program won't derail their finances. But if you're choosing between Colorado schools, check out Metro State first—the $4,000 earnings advantage is substantial. If your student is already admitted to UC Denver for other reasons (perhaps combining History with internships in Denver's museum or nonprofit sector), the modest debt burden makes this a workable choice.