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History · History Rank #222 of 389

Historyat Grinnell College

Graduates earn $39,687/yr in their first year — about 23.0% above the national History average. Base-case 10-year earnings $613K; scenarios range from $556K to $626K depending on AI disruption.

Grinnell, IA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
39 AT RISK
40
Optimistic
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,687
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$613K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Grinnell College

A Grinnell History degree cultivates highly transferable analytical, research, and communication skills, which is why graduates often outperform typical earnings benchmarks for the field. While traditional historian roles are an option, the strong liberal arts foundation prepares you for a broader professional landscape. Many alumni pivot into diverse management and leadership positions across various sectors—from tech startups to non-profits—leveraging their critical thinking far beyond conventional academic paths. The college's rigorous curriculum and extensive alumni network are crucial for securing these opportunities, often in major metropolitan areas rather than the local Iowa market. The "high AI risk" you see reflects general industry shifts, not a devaluing of your unique human analysis. To maximize your career trajectory, actively seek internships that apply your historical thinking to real-world organizational challenges.

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
$556K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple2.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$613K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$626K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Grinnell College'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 Grinnell College 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 Grinnell College

Other top programs at Grinnell College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Grinnell College, 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 Grinnell College

What does a 39/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for History at Grinnell College?

At 39/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring History programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study History at Grinnell College?

The 44% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for History at Grinnell College?

The 76% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $259,448. At a net cost of $62,432, the earnings multiple improves substantially.