History at University of Northern Colorado

History graduates from the University of Northern Colorado fall into a curious position: they out-earn most history majors nationally but lag behind their Colorado peers. With first-year earnings of $35,403, UNC graduates surpass the national median by $4,000, placing them in the 73rd percentile nationwide. However, within Colorado's 15 history programs, they rank in just the 40th percentile—behind not only the flagship Boulder campus but also Metropolitan State and the other CU system schools.

The debt picture is reasonable at $23,804, resulting in a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio. More encouraging is the 24% earnings growth to nearly $44,000 by year four, suggesting graduates find their footing in the job market over time. This trajectory matters for a humanities degree where early career paths can be uncertain.

For Colorado families, the tradeoff is clear: your student will likely do fine compared to history majors nationally, but Metropolitan State graduates earn $7,400 more in their first year with similar debt levels. If your child is committed to history and UNC offers the right campus environment or scholarships, it's a defensible choice. But purely as a return-on-investment decision, other in-state options demonstrate stronger earning potential in this field.