History at University of Denver

University of Denver's history graduates earn $36,774 in their first year—solidly above the national median but landing in the middle of Colorado's pack. While the program ranks in the 79th percentile nationally, it sits at just the 40th percentile statewide, where fellow CU system schools and even Metropolitan State push first-year earnings several thousand dollars higher. With estimated debt around $25,946 (based on what other DU graduates typically borrow), you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71—manageable enough that monthly payments shouldn't consume your child's early career.

The bigger question is whether DU's private school premium delivers value for a liberal arts degree. History programs anywhere rarely produce spectacular first-year earnings, but several Colorado public universities match or exceed DU's outcomes at likely lower cost. The school's 71% admission rate and solid academics (average SAT of 1344) suggest a respectable institution, but for history specifically, the data doesn't reveal a clear advantage over public alternatives.

If your child has other reasons to choose DU—specific faculty, urban location, smaller classes—the debt load won't cripple them. But if you're picking schools purely on career outcomes for history majors, Colorado's public universities offer comparable or better starting salaries without the private tuition burden.