History at James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,018
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,370
98% growth from Year 1
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
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 →