History at University of North Carolina Wilmington

A $25,000 starting salary puts UNCW history graduates well below typical outcomes—they earn $8,000 less than the state median and rank in just the 12th percentile nationally. Even by the modest standards of history degrees, this is a weak start. The debt burden of $24,500 nearly equals that first year's earnings, creating immediate financial pressure that other NC programs avoid. Duke obviously operates in a different universe at $60K, but even UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State graduates start around $33K while carrying similar debt loads.

The one silver lining here is impressive income growth: earnings jump 57% to $39,424 by year four, which at least brings graduates closer to national norms for the major. Still, even with that growth, they remain below the state median. This trajectory suggests many graduates may struggle initially—perhaps taking jobs that don't require a degree—before finding better opportunities. For context, this is a mid-sized state school with a 74% acceptance rate, so students aren't paying for elite credentials that might justify a slower earnings ramp.

For families considering this program, the question is whether a degree that starts substantially behind peers—even within North Carolina—is worth the financial strain. If your student is passionate about history, looking at UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State might deliver similar debt with notably better early earnings. At UNCW, expect a financially tight first few years after graduation.