History at University of Vermont

University of Vermont history graduates start earning roughly $7,000 below the Vermont median for this major—ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a meaningful gap in a state with only six programs, where Norwich and Middlebury graduates command salaries around $40,000 or more in that first year. The debt picture offers some relief: at $20,497, it's below both state and national medians, translating to a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio despite the modest starting salary.

The compelling part of this story is what happens after year one. Earnings jump 55% to reach $43,718 by year four—a trajectory that outpaces typical history graduate earnings growth. This suggests UVM's liberal arts foundation and alumni network eventually deliver value, even if the immediate post-graduation job market proves challenging. However, parents should recognize that their child will likely spend those early years earning considerably less than peers from other Vermont institutions.

For families comfortable with a slower financial start in exchange for potential mid-career growth, the relatively low debt makes this workable. But if your student needs strong earnings right out of college—perhaps to support themselves independently or begin repaying loans aggressively—the other Vermont options demonstrate that better first-year outcomes are available in-state.