History at Willamette University

A $22,555 salary one year after graduation from Willamette's history program falls significantly short of what most history graduates earn—this ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and trails the Oregon median by over $4,000. Even among Oregon's 18 history programs, this lands in the bottom quarter. The particularly alarming gap: Oregon State's history graduates earn 53% more in their first year, suggesting the issue isn't simply Oregon's job market or the major itself. With 79% of applicants admitted and average SATs around 1340, Willamette draws capable students, yet something in the program's outcomes or career support appears to be falling short.

The $18,750 debt load is actually lower than typical for history majors, both nationally and in Oregon. That relative restraint is the silver lining here. But a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 still means graduates face nearly a full year's salary in debt to service—a manageable burden only if those earnings climb substantially in years two and beyond. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few students pursuing graduate school or public service work could be skewing these numbers downward.

For an anxious parent, the question is stark: even accounting for sample size volatility, can you justify paying for a program where first-year earnings trail nearly every comparable option in the state? Unless your student has compelling reasons to choose Willamette specifically—and a clear plan for post-graduation earnings growth—the data suggests looking at Oregon State or other alternatives.