History at Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
46
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,465/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI
7.7x earnings multiple (4.4x 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 | $494K | $494K | $464K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.7x | 7.7x | 7.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 45% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 46 | 42 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (4.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,171
19% growth from Year 1
About Illinois State University
Illinois State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 18,414 students in Normal, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State 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
Other Majors at Illinois State University
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 Illinois State University?
A score of 46/100 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 $464,469 in decade earnings vs $494,452 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →