History at Worcester State University

Worcester State's history program outperforms most comparable programs despite modest institutional selectivity. First-year earnings of $38,028 place graduates in the 83rd percentile nationally and 60th percentile in Massachusetts—noteworthy achievement for a school with a 90% admission rate. At $24,610 in median debt, students borrow roughly in line with national and state norms, yielding a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats the typical 2:1 rule of thumb.

The real story here is earnings trajectory: graduates see 26% income growth by year four, reaching $48,075. This puts them closer to more selective programs like Holy Cross ($42,345 first-year) than you might expect. However, the small sample size—under 30 graduates—means these figures could swing considerably year to year. A handful of high or low earners can significantly skew the numbers.

For families concerned about liberal arts ROI, Worcester State demonstrates that program outcomes matter more than institutional prestige. The moderate debt load gives graduates breathing room to pursue diverse career paths while their earnings grow. Just recognize that individual results may vary more than usual given the limited data. If your student is committed to history and wants to stay in Massachusetts, this represents solid value—but confirm recent placement patterns with the department directly.