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History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,319/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 8.9x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #162 of 389 History programs Top 50%

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	$554K	$548K	$506K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.9x	8.9x	8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.7x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	43	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,499

7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,461

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,319/yr, History graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University land near the $32,281 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 8.9x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,499 debt-to-$33,319 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #162 out of 389 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's History offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $33,319 to $54,461 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accepts 57% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 30,435 students enrolled in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's History program score?

This program scores 43/100 — 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 →