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History at University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,117/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 13.2x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #62 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	$588K	$579K	$530K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.4x	13.2x	12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.4x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,856

Out-of-state: $131,708 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$85,592

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,379

7.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,682

77% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,117 track close to the $32,281 national median for History programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 13.2x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,379 debt-to-$33,117 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #62 out of 389 programs, University of Iowa's History program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,117 to $58,682 over five years (77% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Iowa

University of Iowa has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 21,691 students in Iowa City, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →

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 University of Iowa

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

How does University of Iowa's History program score?

This program scores 49/100 — 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 University of Iowa rank so high for History?

The #62 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 →