History at University of New Mexico-Main Campus

UNM's history program starts graduates nearly $1,500 below the national median at $29,793, but here's the surprising twist: that puts them squarely in the middle for New Mexico history programs (60th percentile in-state), and those graduates see 38% earnings growth by year four, reaching $41,244. That trajectory suggests the program builds skills that translate into career advancement, even if the initial job market is soft.

The debt picture is actually the stronger part of this story. At $20,345, students borrow about $3,500 less than the national median for history degrees, resulting in a manageable 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio. For a highly accessible school (95% admission rate, serving a significant population of Pell grant recipients), keeping debt below $21,000 while delivering middle-of-the-pack outcomes represents responsible program management.

The fundamental question is whether a humanities degree from an open-access institution justifies even modest debt. The earnings trajectory suggests yes—graduates nearly double their buying power in four years—but you're still looking at $30,000 starting salaries in a state where that matters. This works if your student has clear graduate school plans (where the low debt becomes an asset) or expects to supplement their degree with marketable skills. For students committed to history who need to stay in New Mexico, UNM delivers reasonable value, particularly given the minimal borrowing required.