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History at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,592/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #45 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	$553K	$547K	$505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.4x	15.2x	14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.5x	3.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,956

Out-of-state: $157,320 (3.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,932

-44% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,250

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,874

59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's History graduates start at $34,592/yr — above the $32,281 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI History programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in History's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,250 in median debt clears quickly against $34,592 in annual earnings.

At #45 of 389 nationally, this is a top-5% History program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,874 show a 59% jump from the $34,592 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Admission to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is competitive, with 19% of applicants accepted, one of the larger campuses at 20,556 students in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the History field.

Will AI replace History careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $505,063 in decade earnings vs $552,858 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's History program stand out?

Ranked #45 of 389 programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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