History at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,000/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #181 of 389 History programs Top 50%

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 $597K $587K $536K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 10.8x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.8x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 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)
$54,304
Out-of-state: $123,160 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,264
-61% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,018
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,370
98% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,000/yr, roughly in line with the $32,281 national median for History. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,018 debt-to-$29,000 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #181 out of 389 programs, James Madison University's History offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $29,000 to $57,370 over five years (98% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About James Madison University

James Madison University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 20,497 in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison University →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
History teachers, postsecondary $81,500/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

History at Other Schools

Other Majors at James Madison University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does James Madison University's History program score?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for History. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →