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History at Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,733/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #108 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	$516K	$514K	$480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.5x	10.5x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	3.9x	3.7x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$49,048

Out-of-state: $130,648 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,680

-16% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,000

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,573

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,733 at Old Dominion University come in 14% above the national median of $32,281 for History programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.5x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $36,733 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #108 of 389 History programs, Old Dominion University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $36,733 to $50,573 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 17,521 students in Norfolk, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Old Dominion 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 Old Dominion 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for History at Old Dominion University?

A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for History. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $479,711 in decade earnings vs $516,381 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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