History at Roanoke College

Salem, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,940/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 3.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #379 of 389 History programs

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 $535K $531K $492K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.6x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 26 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$147,096
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$111,144
24% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
12.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,394
87% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $25,940 per year, History graduates from Roanoke College earn below the $32,281 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in History's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 against $25,940/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #379 of 389 History programs, Roanoke College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $48,394 show a 87% jump from the $25,940 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Roanoke College

With 80% of applicants admitted, Roanoke College prioritizes broad access, a compact campus enrolling 1,801 students in Salem, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Roanoke College →

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 Roanoke College

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 Roanoke College?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for History. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is History at Roanoke College worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $25,940/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $492,442 in decade earnings vs $534,700 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with History from Roanoke College?
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 →