Home Schools Cornell University History
History · History Rank #34 of 389

Historyat Cornell University

Graduates earn $44,706/yr in their first year — about 38.0% above the national History average. Base-case 10-year earnings $761K; scenarios range from $670K to $790K depending on AI disruption.

Ithaca, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,706
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$761K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Cornell University

A Cornell History degree, despite its seemingly specialized subject, acts as a powerful signal to employers. Your analytical rigor, research capabilities, and sophisticated communication skills, honed in this demanding academic environment, are highly sought after in diverse professional fields. This explains why graduates often pivot successfully into management consulting, finance, law, or various corporate leadership tracks, leveraging their ability to understand complex systems and craft compelling narratives. While AI tools may increasingly assist with certain data aggregation, the critical thinking, contextual understanding, and nuanced argumentation you develop are uniquely human and highly valued, particularly in strategic roles. To maximize this degree, actively seek internships that apply your skills in interdisciplinary or business contexts, demonstrating your adaptability and strategic thinking from day one.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$670K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$761K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$790K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cornell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where History graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
History teachers, postsecondary
-0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$81,500/yr
High
4
Historians
+2.2% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$74,050/yr
Moderate
5
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
6
Curators
+7.0% 10-yr growth · 1,800 openings/yr
$61,770/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering History

How Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
57
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
University of Houston-Clear Lake
TX · Public
64
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Top score
Amherst College
MA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Yale University
CT · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Also at Cornell University

Other top programs at Cornell University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in History offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare History trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about History at Cornell University

How does Cornell University's History program score?

This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for History graduates.

How vulnerable is History to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' History careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

How affordable is History at Cornell University after financial aid?

Sticker price is $264,056, but the average net cost is $129,348 — a 51% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.