History at Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,771/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #344 of 389 History programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to History graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $435K $440K $423K
Earnings Multiple 2.6x 2.7x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$165,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,692
51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$46,821
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,771 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 2.7x — 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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $32,771 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #344 of 389 History programs, Bridgewater College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Bridgewater College

Bridgewater College has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,388 students in Bridgewater, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $80,692 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Bridgewater College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
History teachers, postsecondary $81,500/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

History at Other Schools

Other Majors at Bridgewater College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at Bridgewater College?
A score of 33/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for History. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace History careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $422,857 in decade earnings vs $434,585 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Bridgewater College a hidden gem for History?
After financial aid, the average student pays $80,692 over four years — 51% below the $165,400 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →