History at Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$24,612/yr (-24% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI
11.5x earnings multiple (4.3x 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 | $517K | $515K | $480K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.5x | 11.5x | 10.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.3x | 4.3x | 4.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 45% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 35 | 34 | 34 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (4.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,423
11.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,602
85% growth from Year 1
About Portland State University
A 91% acceptance rate means Portland State University is accessible to most applicants, serving 13,619 students in Portland, OR.
See all programs and financial aid at Portland 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 Portland State University
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at Portland State University?
A score of 34/100 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 $480,384 in decade earnings vs $517,351 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with History from Portland State University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →