Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $28,454 track close to the $32,281 national median for History programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI History programs nationally.
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 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $28,454 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #270 of 389 History programs, Appalachian State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $28,454 to $39,254 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.