Compare 36 History. programs in Texas. Average earnings: $43,133.
With top graduates earning $70,345, History stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $27K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Rice University's History program leads with graduates earning $70,345, well above the $43,133 average across 36 Texas programs. Southern Methodist University follows at $62,508, while UT Dallas reaches $55,900—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Rice graduates borrow $11,000 and face just a 3.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. UT Arlington leads for families with a 14.2% burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $70,345 | 34 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Manageable |
| #2 | $62,508 | 25 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $55,900 | 33 | $18,000 | Excellent | $21,495 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $54,332 | 19 | $21,500 | Good | $54,925 | High |
| #5 | $53,170 | 74 | $17,527 | Excellent | $12,313 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $51,887 | 149 | $17,804 | Good | $32,258 | High | |
| #7 | $51,573 | 95 | $21,983 | Good | $19,433 | Challenging | |
| #8 | University Of HoustonPublic | $50,957 | 102 | $18,194 | Good | $18,072 | Challenging |
| #9 | $50,119 | 12 | $22,934 | Good | $14,224 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $49,738 | 156 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | High | |
| #11 | $49,634 | 34 | $18,750 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $49,576 | 153 | $19,250 | Good | $23,211 | Challenging | |
| #13 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $49,562 | 82 | $21,500 | Good | $23,443 | Challenging |
| #14 | $48,906 | 36 | $17,831 | Good | $14,731 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $47,274 | 34 | $23,409 | Manageable | $18,080 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Angelo State UniversityPublic | $46,582 | 37 | $20,000 | Good | $15,000 | Challenging |
| #17 | $46,375 | 11 | $27,000 | Manageable | $25,775 | High | |
| #18 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $45,815 | 102 | $21,000 | Manageable | $22,500 | High |
| #19 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $45,715 | 24 | $19,218 | Good | $13,471 | Challenging |
| #20 | Austin CollegePrivate | $45,148 | 22 | $24,500 | Manageable | $30,413 | High |
| #21 | $43,536 | 98 | $20,500 | Manageable | $13,859 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $42,080 | 17 | $20,500 | Manageable | $15,265 | High | |
| #23 | University Of DallasPrivate | $42,028 | 14 | $23,117 | Manageable | $24,154 | High |
| #24 | $40,216 | 41 | $18,000 | Manageable | $11,916 | Challenging | |
| #25 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $39,874 | 48 | $23,000 | Challenging | $50,786 | 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 →