History at University of Georgia

UGA's history program sits near the bottom of Georgia rankings—25th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of $27,000 trailing the state median by nearly $6,000. More concerning, it underperforms peer Georgia institutions significantly: University of North Georgia graduates start $11,000 higher, and even Emory's history majors (who carry far more debt) earn $7,000 more initially. For a flagship state university with a 1301 average SAT and selective admissions, these outcomes are surprisingly weak.

The silver lining is strong earnings growth: graduates see a 72% jump to $46,000 by year four, suggesting many eventually land in careers that value UGA's credential, just not immediately. However, that still means four years of relatively low earnings while carrying $20,500 in debt—a manageable amount, but paired with below-average starting salaries, it creates real financial pressure in those early years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 is workable, though not comfortable.

For families banking on UGA's flagship status to deliver strong career outcomes, these numbers warrant a hard look. History majors at less prestigious Georgia schools are launching better financially. If your student is committed to history, understand they'll likely need graduate school, strategic internships, or geographic flexibility to reach solid earnings. The degree works eventually, but the path is steeper than the university's reputation might suggest.