U.S. median for this major: $50,540.
College Scorecard field of study; 24 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 55% 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 $23,485. College Scorecard.
Murray State University 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 Murray State University'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 | $6,242 | $26,716 | 2.0 years |
| $30–48k | $6,347 | $27,165 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $8,104 | $34,685 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $12,811 | $54,831 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $15,450 | $66,126 | 5.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (48% 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 ($46,739) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,223 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky college we cover that reports History graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centre College | $51,094 | $27,000 | $20,781 | 81% |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University | $48,109 | $30,375 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 3 | Murray State University | $46,739 | $25,500 | $9,096 | 61% |
| 4 | University of Kentucky | $46,111 | $20,500 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 5 | University of Louisville | $45,825 | $23,312 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 6 | Western Kentucky University | $38,836 | $22,965 | $10,990 | 56% |
17 more Kentucky 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 Murray State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Murray State University
- Acceptance rate: 86% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,737
- Full cost breakdown · all 63 majors · overview
Related majors at Murray State University
- English$41,383
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages—
- Philosophy—
- Linguistics—
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$41,797
- Studio Art$38,192
Murray State University History questions
How much do Murray State University History graduates earn?
History graduates of Murray State University earn a median $46,739 four years after graduating and $27,831 one year after. The U.S. median for History graduates across 454 colleges is $50,540.
How much debt do Murray State University History graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for History graduates of Murray State University is $25,500, about 55% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,000.
Is Murray State University a good school for History in Kentucky?
On pay, History graduates of Murray State University earn $46,739 four years out, $314 above the median for the same major across 6 Kentucky colleges ($46,425) and $3,801 below the U.S. median ($50,540). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Murray State University rank for History in Kentucky?
Of 6 Kentucky colleges reporting History graduate earnings, Murray State University ranks 3rd. The highest is Centre College at $51,094.
What jobs do History graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $61,560 in Kentucky 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: “Murray State University History: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/murray-state-university/majors/history (College Scorecard and BLS data).