History at University of Minnesota-Duluth

UMN-Duluth's history program produces graduates earning $42,297 in their first year—well above both the national median ($31,220) and Minnesota's state median ($39,186). This places it in the 95th percentile nationally, an impressive showing for a humanities degree. However, the 60th percentile ranking within Minnesota tells a more nuanced story: while this program outperforms most history degrees nationwide, it's solidly middle-of-the-pack among Minnesota schools. The debt load of $26,743 is reasonable, resulting in a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable compared to many liberal arts programs.

The comparison to University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is particularly striking—Duluth graduates earn significantly more ($42,297 vs. $26,635) despite similar debt levels and a less selective admission process. This suggests strong regional employment outcomes or effective career placement specific to Duluth's program.

For families considering this program, the value proposition is solid: graduates avoid the dire earnings that plague many history degrees elsewhere, and the debt burden won't be crushing. Just understand that while this outperforms most history programs nationally, other Minnesota schools match or exceed these outcomes. If your student is committed to history and drawn to Duluth's campus, the financial risk is lower than typical for humanities majors.