History at University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,749/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI
9.8x earnings multiple (3.2x 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 | $595K | $585K | $534K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.9x | 9.8x | 8.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.3x | 3.2x | 2.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 45% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 42 | 42 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,282
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,621
94% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 28% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →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 University of California-Santa Barbara
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-Santa Barbara's History program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 →