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History at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,028/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 7.7x earnings multiple (2.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #97 of 389 History programs Top 25%

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	$666K	$649K	$583K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	7.9x	7.7x	7.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	2.9x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$83,944

Out-of-state: $232,056 (2.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$91,524

-9% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,250

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,242

101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,028 per year, History graduates from University of Virginia-Main Campus earn slightly above the $32,281 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

At 7.7x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,250 debt-to-$34,028 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #97 out of 389 programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus's History program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,028 to $68,242 over five years (101% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

A 17% acceptance rate puts University of Virginia-Main Campus in competitive admissions territory, serving 17,315 students in Charlottesville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Virginia-Main Campus →

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 Virginia-Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Virginia-Main Campus's History program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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.

Why does University of Virginia-Main Campus rank so high for History?

The #97 ranking out of 389 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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