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History at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,495/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #78 of 389 History programs Top 25%

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	$564K	$557K	$513K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.1x	11.9x	11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.3x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,712

Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,712

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,625

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,276

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Texas at Austin's History graduates start at $34,495/yr — above the $32,281 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 11.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,625 debt-to-$34,495 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #78 out of 389 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's History program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,495 to $56,276 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Austin

Admission to The University of Texas at Austin is competitive, with 29% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 42,100 in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

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

How does The University of Texas at Austin's History program score?

This program scores 48/100 — 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.

Why does The University of Texas at Austin rank so high for History?

The #78 ranking out of 389 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →