History at George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,992/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI
11.1x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
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 | $629K | $616K | $558K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.4x | 11.1x | 10.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.0x | 3.9x | 3.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 45% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 41 | 40 | 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)
$55,260
Out-of-state: $157,588 (3.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,724
126% growth from Year 1
About George Mason University
A 89% acceptance rate means George Mason University is accessible to most applicants, with 27,083 students enrolled in Fairfax, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at George Mason University →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
History teachers, postsecondary
$81,500/yr
Compare & Explore
History at Other Schools
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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at George Mason University?
A score of 40/100 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 $558,108 in decade earnings vs $629,178 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with History from George Mason University?
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 →