History at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

UW-Oshkosh's history program produces outcomes that cluster right around national norms but lag behind what other Wisconsin public universities deliver for this major. First-year earnings of $32,259 land near the national median but below Wisconsin's state median of $32,594—ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. More concerning, comparable UW System schools like Stevens Point, Green Bay, and Whitewater all show significantly higher earnings for their history graduates, with gaps ranging from $700 to over $8,500 annually.

The financial picture offers one advantage: at $21,906, debt loads run about $2,700 below the state median and roughly $2,000 below the national benchmark. That translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68, making this one of the less burdensome history degrees from a pure debt perspective. However, that lower debt doesn't fully compensate for the earnings gap when you consider that Wisconsin peers deliver both competitive debt levels and materially higher starting salaries.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a handful of outliers could skew these numbers either direction. For a family prioritizing affordability and keeping debt minimal, this program delivers on that front. But if maximizing earning potential is the goal, other UW System campuses appear to offer stronger outcomes for history majors without dramatically different debt burdens.