History at University of North Alabama

The earnings trajectory here tells a troubling story: graduates start below both state and national medians, then see their income drop 15% by year four to just $23,730. While the $19,350 in debt is relatively modest—roughly $7,000 below the state median for history programs—it still represents nearly 70 cents for every dollar earned in that first year. With small sample size limiting reliability, these numbers suggest inconsistent outcomes that should concern families planning to rely on a bachelor's degree for financial independence.

Within Alabama's history programs, this ranks at just the 40th percentile, trailing the state median by $5,700. That gap matters because students at Troy or Montevallo are earning 50-60% more just a few years after graduation with the same degree. The national comparison looks even weaker: only 26% of history programs nationwide produce lower earnings. For context, Alabama's 96% admission rate reflects an access-focused mission, but that openness doesn't translate to competitive career outcomes in this field.

If your child is set on studying history at UNA, recognize you're looking at earnings barely above poverty wages for a single person, with the very real possibility of financial struggle in their mid-twenties. The modest debt load provides some cushion, but unless graduate school or a specific career path beyond the data is in play, this represents a significant financial risk even at a relatively affordable institution.