History at University of Southern Mississippi

Southern Miss's History program serves its student population reasonably well within Mississippi's context, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual outcomes could vary significantly from these figures. Graduates earn $30,684 in their first year—slightly below the national median but notably above the state median of $29,490, placing this program in the 60th percentile among Mississippi history programs. That's a meaningful advantage when most students will likely build their careers within the state.

The debt picture is manageable at $25,455, translating to a 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than many humanities degrees achieve. What's encouraging is the 16% earnings growth by year four, reaching $35,660—a trajectory that suggests graduates are finding their footing professionally rather than plateauing early. For a university serving nearly half its students on Pell grants, this represents solid value for students who might not have four years to spend unemployed while pursuing prestigious but impractical credentials.

The caveat here is real: with such a small cohort, these numbers might reflect a few particularly successful (or struggling) graduates rather than a reliable pattern. But if you're weighing this against other Mississippi options—where Mississippi State's program actually shows lower starting earnings—Southern Miss appears to be doing right by its history majors, especially given its open admissions and affordability focus.