Historic Preservation and Conservation: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$70,565 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$70,565Median year-4 earnings
$25,528Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Historic Preservation and Conservation
How much do Historic Preservation and Conservation master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $70,565 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Historic Preservation and Conservation?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $61,169 to $71,178 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Historic Preservation and Conservation?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 6 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$70,565Median reported earnings · year 4
$54,949Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
5With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$61,169National median$70,56575th percentile$71,178
5 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$71,178Observed year-4 earnings$45,624
Clemson University$22,253 price · $71,518 earningsCollege of Charleston$18,960 price · $71,178 earningsColumbia University in the City of New York$21,590 price · $70,565 earningsSavannah College of Art and Design$49,430 price · $61,169 earningsEastern Michigan University$15,407 price · $45,624 earnings
$15,407Annual college-wide average net price$22,253
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
5 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Clemson University$71,5182College of Charleston$71,1783Columbia University in the City of New York$70,5654Savannah College of Art and Design$61,1695Eastern Michigan University$45,624Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Historians$76,750 median wage3,450 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3093+3.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$42,730–$131,810 10th–90th percentileArchivists$64,550 median wage7,970 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-4011+3.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$39,970–$110,550 10th–90th percentileFacilities Managers$106,660 median wage156,180 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3013+4.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$64,480–$176,120 10th–90th percentilePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,640 median wage149,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1199+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$44,300–$160,700 10th–90th percentileManagers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileArea, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary$85,020 median wage11,300 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1062+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,070–$160,420 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson UniversityMaster's Degree | Clemson, SC | $71,518 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,253 |
| 2 | College of CharlestonMaster's Degree | Charleston, SC | $71,178 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,960 |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $70,565 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 4 | Savannah College of Art and DesignMaster's Degree | Savannah, GA | $61,169 | Not available | Baseline needed | $49,430 |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan UniversityMaster's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $45,624 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,407 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.