History (Bachelor's Degree) at William Penn University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,402

Est. from IA median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,946

Est. from national median (119 programs)

Analysis

In Iowa, history programs show considerable range in outcomes, from Iowa State's $41,294 down to UNI's $27,569. Based on comparable programs statewide, William Penn graduates likely earn around $36,400 in their first year—solidly above the national median for history majors and right in the middle of what Iowa schools typically produce. That's encouraging for a smaller institution, suggesting the program holds its own despite William Penn's less selective profile.

The estimated $25,946 in debt is slightly higher than Iowa's typical history program debt of $23,877, though still reasonable compared to the national picture. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 means graduates would owe roughly eight and a half months of their first-year salary—manageable territory if those earnings estimates hold true. History majors rarely strike it rich early on, but this program appears positioned neither to burden graduates with excessive debt nor leave them significantly behind peers at larger Iowa institutions.

The uncertainty here matters. With nearly half of William Penn's students receiving Pell grants, families can't afford to bet wrong on a program with no reported graduate outcomes. If your child is committed to history, this looks defensible based on state patterns, but understand you're making that judgment without seeing this specific program's actual track record. Programs serving similar students with similar resources should produce similar results—that's the bet you'd be making.

Where William Penn University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all history bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

History bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (25 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
William Penn UniversityOskaloosa	$28,750	$36,402*	—	$25,946*	—
Iowa State UniversityAmes	$10,497	$41,294*	$40,853	$26,007*	0.63
Grinnell CollegeGrinnell	$64,862	$39,687*	$50,567	$17,500*	0.44
University of IowaIowa City	$10,964	$33,117*	$51,028	$25,978*	0.78
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls	$9,728	$27,569*	$45,192	$21,776*	0.79
National Median	—	$31,220*	—	$24,000*	0.77

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with history graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

History Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Historians

Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

$74,050/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Archivists

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Curators

Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Museum Technicians and Conservators

Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.

$57,100/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At William Penn University, approximately 46% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in IA. Actual outcomes may vary.