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History at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,909/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

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

ROI 28.5x earnings multiple (15.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #18 of 389 History programs Top 5%

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	$519K	$516K	$481K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	28.6x	28.5x	26.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	15.2x	15.1x	14.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$18,128

Out-of-state: $34,128 (15.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,316

-178% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,814

8.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,346

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,909 at Western Carolina University come in 8% above the national median of $32,281 for History programs.

The 28.5x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,814 debt-to-$34,909 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #18 out of 389 programs, Western Carolina University's History program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $34,909 to $50,346 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,867 students in Cullowhee, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Carolina 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

Compare History

Other Majors at Western Carolina University

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 Western Carolina University's History program score?

This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for History graduates.

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 Western Carolina University rank so high for History?

The #18 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 →