History at Southern Methodist University

First-year earnings of $33,550 track close to the $32,281 national median for History programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in History's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,280 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,550 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #210 of 389 History programs, Southern Methodist University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $79,519 show a 137% jump from the $33,550 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.