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