History at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's history program starts slow but shows something unusual: a 68% earnings jump by year four, pushing graduates from well below the national median to significantly above it. That trajectory matters more than the modest $28,663 starting salary, which is likely inflated downward by graduates pursuing additional degrees or entering teaching positions that take time to ramp up.

The debt load of $25,000 is manageable, matching both state and national medians for history programs. More importantly, by year four when earnings reach $48,243, this becomes one of the better outcomes among New Hampshire's history programs—trailing only Dartmouth's elite $61,000 but substantially ahead of Southern New Hampshire's $37,734. The program sits at the 40th percentile within the state, which undersells its medium-term performance since most comparisons focus on first-year numbers.

The real question is whether your student can weather those first few years. If they're planning graduate school anyway, the modest starting earnings matter less. If they need immediate earning power, this isn't the field regardless of where they study it. But for history majors specifically, UNH offers a reasonable path forward with debt that won't become crushing as their career develops. Just don't expect a quick financial payoff—this is a degree that rewards patience.