Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $24,659/yr fall 24% below the $32,281 national median for History. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI History programs nationally.
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 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $16,960 represents roughly 8 months of the $24,659 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #343 of 389 History programs, Tennessee Technological University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $41,502 show a 68% jump from the $24,659 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.