Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $26,805/yr fall 17% below the $32,281 national median for History. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
At 8.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $21,250 debt-to-$26,805 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #289 out of 389 programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's financial outcomes for History trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $26,805 to $53,722 over five years (100% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.