Compare 17 History. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $41,241.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, History programs tell a different story. Across 17 programs in North Carolina, earnings range from $13,702 to $83,943—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Duke University's History program leads with graduates earning $83,943, nearly double the state average of $41,241. Wake Forest follows at $61,916, while Elon University produces graduates earning $49,876. The 67% acceptance rate at Elon proves accessible programs can deliver strong outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Duke graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 2.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Wake Forest achieves a 7.5% student burden but family debt pushes the total to 19.5%, showing why financing strategy matters.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $83,943 | 63 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Good |
| #2 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $61,916 | 34 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Challenging |
| #3 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $49,876 | 28 | $20,500 | Good | $46,609 | High |
| #4 | $46,314 | 74 | $20,121 | Good | $23,000 | High | |
| #5 | $43,835 | 145 | $14,000 | Good | $25,072 | High | |
| #6 | $43,572 | 132 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,809 | High | |
| #7 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $42,711 | 59 | $22,750 | Manageable | $19,710 | High |
| #8 | $42,612 | 43 | $21,868 | Manageable | $18,241 | High | |
| #9 | $40,850 | 67 | $22,858 | Manageable | $14,638 | High | |
| #10 | $39,424 | 43 | $19,500 | Manageable | $22,737 | High | |
| #11 | $37,461 | 23 | $20,500 | Challenging | $20,305 | High | |
| #12 | Guilford CollegePrivate | $36,341 | 13 | $26,000 | High | $37,100 | High |
| #13 | $34,702 | 16 | $28,250 | High | $19,245 | High | |
| #14 | $32,372 | 49 | $20,231 | High | $21,919 | High | |
| #15 | Warren Wilson CollegePrivate | $26,739 | 9 | $25,000 | High | $21,294 | High |
| #16 | Belmont Abbey CollegePrivate | $24,730 | 11 | $26,000 | High | $38,303 | High |
| #17 | $13,702 | 16 | $25,000 | High | $10,984 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
