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History · History Rank #97 of 389

Historyat University of Virginia-Main Campus

Graduates earn $34,028/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national History average. Base-case 10-year earnings $649K; scenarios range from $583K to $666K depending on AI disruption.

Charlottesville, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
47 AVERAGE
48
Optimistic
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,028
1-year post-graduation
ROI
7.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$649K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Virginia

A History degree from a prestigious institution like UVA equips you with far more than just historical knowledge; you're developing highly transferable critical thinking, research, and communication skills. This foundation is why many graduates successfully navigate diverse professional landscapes, from law and public service to business management and education, often leveraging the university’s robust alumni network and strong regional employer connections. The versatility of these skills explains why you see paths into various management roles, where the ability to analyze complex situations and articulate compelling arguments is paramount. Given the high AI risk for certain analytical tasks, proactively seeking internships that demand strategic thinking and human-centric problem-solving will be crucial for your career trajectory.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$583K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple7.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$649K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple7.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$666K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple7.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where History graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
History teachers, postsecondary
-0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$81,500/yr
High
4
Historians
+2.2% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$74,050/yr
Moderate
5
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
6
Curators
+7.0% 10-yr growth · 1,800 openings/yr
$61,770/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering History

How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
57
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
University of Houston-Clear Lake
TX · Public
64
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Top score
Amherst College
MA · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Yale University
CT · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Also at University of Virginia

Other top programs at University of Virginia

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in History offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare History trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about History at University of Virginia

How does University of Virginia-Main Campus's History program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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 Virginia-Main Campus rank so high for History?

The #97 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.