History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
42
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,499
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,461
63% growth from Year 1
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
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 →