History at California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
41
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,642/yr (-33% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 19.9x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #184 of 389 History programs Top 50%

Program Analysis

Your post-graduation earnings with a History degree from CSU-Fresno reflect the realities of a regional labor market and the broad applicability of a humanities education. In the Central Valley, many graduates find roles in local government, K-12 education, or non-profit sectors, which often feature more modest salary growth compared to national averages for specialized fields. The program excels at developing critical thinking and research skills, but translating these directly into high-paying roles typically requires intentional career planning. Many students don't pursue the graduate-level education often needed for positions like historians or postsecondary teachers, instead leveraging their skills in more generalist roles. To maximize your potential, actively seek internships early, ideally combining your historical expertise with practical skills like data analysis, project management, or communications to differentiate yourself in the job market.

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 $562K $555K $511K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.1x 19.9x 18.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.4x 6.8x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 41 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,920
Out-of-state: $75,440 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$25,920
7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,497
10.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,521
124% growth from Year 1

About California State University-Fresno

With 96% of applicants admitted, California State University-Fresno prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 21,070 in Fresno, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Fresno →

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 California State University-Fresno

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at California State University-Fresno?
A score of 41/100 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 $511,198 in decade earnings vs $561,688 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with History from California State University-Fresno?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →