History at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

A history degree from UW-Eau Claire starts graduates at under $29,000—roughly $3,600 below the state median and in the bottom half of Wisconsin history programs. While the debt load of $23,112 is slightly better than average, the low starting earnings still create a challenging first few years. Among the 28 Wisconsin schools offering history, this program lands at the 40th percentile, meaning six in ten alternatives deliver stronger initial earnings. Compare this to nearby UW-Stevens Point, where history grads start at nearly $36,000, or even UW-Green Bay at $33,000.

The upside is decent earnings growth: graduates see a 20% increase by year four, reaching nearly $35,000. That's solid trajectory for humanities majors, who often start low but gain ground as they establish careers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 is manageable compared to many liberal arts programs, and graduates should be able to handle payments without severe strain once earnings rise.

The main concern here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in this data—which means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few different career outcomes. For Wisconsin families, this program delivers below-average results compared to what's available in-state. If your child is set on history and UW-Eau Claire specifically, it's workable debt-wise, but they'd start with a meaningful earnings disadvantage compared to peers at Madison, Whitewater, or Stevens Point.