U.S. median for this major: $50,540.
College Scorecard field of study; 52 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 63% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $37,207. College Scorecard.
Columbia College History: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Columbia College's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,967 | $103,777 | 9.1 years |
| $30–48k | $21,168 | $91,657 | 8.1 years |
| $48–75k | $21,550 | $93,312 | 8.2 years |
| $75–110k | $23,015 | $99,655 | 8.8 years |
| $110k+ | $21,545 | $93,290 | 8.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (30% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of History graduates 4 years after graduating ($46,794) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,356 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
History at Missouri colleges
Every Missouri college we cover that reports History graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $56,632 | $21,250 | $20,268 | 75% |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | $49,096 | $25,445 | $13,310 | 55% |
| 3 | Columbia College | $46,794 | $29,700 | $22,715 | 42% |
| 4 | Truman State University | $43,405 | $21,125 | $12,780 | 69% |
| 5 | Drury University | $41,996 | $31,615 | $20,831 | 62% |
| 6 | Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studiesbachelor's & associate | $41,996 | $31,615 | $10,566 | 43% |
| 7 | University of Missouri-St Louis | $41,378 | $28,738 | $15,071 | 57% |
| 8 | Missouri Western State University | $40,716 | — | $13,251 | 39% |
| 9 | Missouri State University-Springfield | $38,485 | $27,000 | $17,613 | 58% |
29 more Missouri colleges offer History but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for History graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Museum Technicians and Conservators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Columbia College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Columbia College
- Acceptance rate: — · admissions
- Graduation rate: 42% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $45,378
- Full cost breakdown · all 41 majors · overview
Related majors at Columbia College
- English$36,714
- Philosophy—
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$57,034
- Area Studies—
- Studio Art—
Columbia College History questions
How much do Columbia College History graduates earn?
History graduates of Columbia College earn a median $46,794 four years after graduating and $40,054 one year after. The U.S. median for History graduates across 454 colleges is $50,540.
How much debt do Columbia College History graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for History graduates of Columbia College is $29,700, about 63% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,000.
Is Columbia College a good school for History in Missouri?
On pay, History graduates of Columbia College earn $46,794 four years out, $4,798 above the median for the same major across 9 Missouri colleges ($41,996) and $3,746 below the U.S. median ($50,540). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Columbia College rank for History in Missouri?
Of 9 Missouri colleges reporting History graduate earnings, Columbia College ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Missouri-Columbia at $56,632.
What jobs do History graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $58,720 in the Columbia, MO area and $72,040 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers and museum technicians and conservators.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Columbia College History: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/columbia-college-mo/majors/history (College Scorecard and BLS data).