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History at Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,589/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #138 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 $531K $527K $490K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.8x 9.8x 9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.7x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,976
Out-of-state: $142,656 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,272
-45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,431
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,945
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,589/yr, edging above the $32,281 national average for History — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

At 9.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,431 debt-to-$34,589 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #138 out of 389 programs, Oregon State University's History offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $34,589 to $51,945 over five years (50% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Oregon State University

Oregon State University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 29,557 students in Corvallis, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State 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

Compare this program → View all 389 schools offering History →

History at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($61,127) Duke University ($60,750) University of Houston-Clear Lake ($57,239) Amherst College ($56,444) Yale University ($54,700) Columbia University in the City of New York ($53,828) Harvard University ($53,468) Northwestern University ($50,161)

Other Majors at Oregon State University

Computer Science ($85,376) Construction Engineering ($80,936) Industrial Engineering ($78,425) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,636) Manufacturing Engineering ($72,154) Chemical Engineering ($71,618) Engineering, Other ($71,549) Civil Engineering ($70,635)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare History trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University's History program score?
This program scores 44/100 — 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 →