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History at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,652/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 10.7x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #255 of 389 History programs

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	$550K	$545K	$503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.8x	10.7x	9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.9x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	38	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

8.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,175

85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,652/yr, roughly in line with the $32,281 national median for History. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$27,652 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #255 out of 389 programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia's financial outcomes for History trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $27,652 to $51,175 over five years (85% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

A 61% admission rate makes University of South Carolina-Columbia accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 28,113 students in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

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 South Carolina-Columbia

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 University of South Carolina-Columbia's History program score?

This program scores 38/100 — 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 →