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History at University of Memphis

Memphis, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,652/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)
ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #208 of 389 History programs

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 $502K $501K $470K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.1x 12.1x 11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.5x 7.9x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,376
Out-of-state: $59,136 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,012
-28% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,625
8.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,475
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $30,652/yr, History graduates from University of Memphis land near the $32,281 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.1x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,625 debt-to-$30,652 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #208 out of 389 programs, University of Memphis's financial outcomes for History trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $30,652 to $46,475 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Memphis

With 93% of applicants admitted, University of Memphis prioritizes broad access, enrolling 13,645 students in Memphis, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Memphis →

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

Compare this program → View all 389 schools offering History →

History at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($61,127) Duke University ($60,750) University of Houston-Clear Lake ($57,239) Amherst College ($56,444) Yale University ($54,700) Columbia University in the City of New York ($53,828) Harvard University ($53,468) Northwestern University ($50,161)

Other Majors at University of Memphis

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,680) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($71,137) Mechanical Engineering ($69,386) Computer Engineering ($65,222) Civil Engineering ($64,780) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($62,454) Engineering Technology, General ($61,465) Mathematics ($57,310)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare History trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Memphis's History program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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 →