History at Utah State University

Utah State's History program lands squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, with graduates earning just above the $31,220 national median. Within Utah, it actually performs better—hitting the 60th percentile among the state's eight history programs and matching the state median exactly. The $25,237 in median debt sits below the national average but notably higher than Utah's $19,000 median, suggesting this program carries more borrowing than most in-state alternatives.

The 17% earnings growth from $31,768 to $37,218 over four years shows steady if unremarkable progress. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79, graduates typically owe about 9.5 months of their first-year salary—manageable but requiring discipline. For context, BYU's history graduates start at $38,643, about $7,000 more annually, though the University of Utah's program produces lower initial earnings despite being the state flagship.

For families seeking an affordable humanities education, this program works as intended: accessible admission, moderate debt load, and earnings that keep pace with the field. The combination of reasonable debt and middle-of-the-road earnings won't create financial stress for most graduates, though they should expect typical liberal arts career trajectories rather than breakout income potential.