History at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame's History program shows impressive earnings growth—graduates nearly double their income from year one ($39,522) to year four ($63,592), a 61% jump that far exceeds typical patterns for humanities degrees. That $63,592 four-year mark beats the national median for history majors by over $32,000 and positions this program in the 88th percentile nationally. The relatively modest debt load of $19,000 (well below both the national and Indiana medians of around $24,000) creates a manageable financial foundation, even if that first year salary feels tight.

The Indiana context is interesting: Notre Dame grads earn slightly less initially than peers at University of Southern Indiana or Wabash College, but that's comparing first-year numbers—and few programs show the sustained earnings acceleration you see here. The real question is whether that career trajectory continues beyond year four, which this data can't confirm.

The major caveat? This is based on fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. For families who can afford Notre Dame's overall cost structure and whose student is seriously committed to a history degree, the combination of reasonable debt and strong mid-career earnings suggests the program delivers value. Just recognize you're banking on that longer-term earnings growth materializing, not the immediate post-graduation paycheck.