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History at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $29,749/yr (-8% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #170 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	$595K	$585K	$534K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.9x	9.8x	8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.2x	2.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	42	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,860

Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,300

8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,282

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,621

94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,749/yr, roughly in line with the $32,281 national median for History. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 9.8x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $29,749 far exceeding the $14,282 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #170 out of 389 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's History offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $29,749 to $57,621 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 28% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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 University of California-Santa Barbara

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Barbara's History program score?

This program scores 42/100 — 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 →