History at University of Mary Washington

University of Mary Washington's history program trails most Virginia competitors, with first-year earnings of $31,965 landing graduates in just the 40th percentile statewide—roughly $11,000 behind top Virginia programs like Hampden-Sydney and VMI. While this beats the national median slightly, it falls short of the typical Virginia history graduate's $32,368. The modest debt load of $23,018 keeps the financial picture manageable, with graduates owing less than their first year's salary, but four years out, earnings of $39,932 still lag well behind what graduates from comparable in-state schools achieve.

The 25% earnings growth suggests these graduates do gain traction in the job market over time, which matters for liberal arts degrees where career paths often take longer to develop. However, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported—means these figures could shift considerably with future cohorts. What you're seeing here might not represent the full picture of graduate outcomes.

For Virginia families, this program represents a below-average investment compared to other state options. Unless your child has specific reasons to attend Mary Washington (location, campus fit, scholarship offers), stronger-performing Virginia history programs would likely deliver better career positioning without significantly more debt.