Historyat Wayne State University
Graduates earn $41,874/yr in their first year — about 30.0% above the national History average. Base-case 10-year earnings $515K; scenarios range from $480K to $517K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Wayne State University
At $41,874 per year, History graduates from Wayne State University significantly outpace the $32,281 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,874 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #51 of 389 nationally, this is a top-5% History program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $41,874 to $52,040 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Wayne State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering History
How Wayne State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Wayne State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Wayne State University, 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 →Frequently asked about History at Wayne State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at Wayne State University?
A score of 50/100 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 $480,035 in decade earnings vs $516,848 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Wayne State University's History program stand out?
Ranked #51 of 389 programs nationally, Wayne State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.