How much do History bachelor's degree graduates from American University earn?

The reported median is $59,630 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $26,000.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 18% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

History bachelor's degree at American University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$8,950 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 43.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff: −58% · Negative payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price−$33,700

$12,000Annual price−$81,700

$24,000Annual price−$129,700

$36,000Annual price−$177,700

$42,000Current college-wide context−$201,700

$48,000Annual price−$225,700

$60,000Annual price−$273,700

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+24%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$43,809 → $54,363

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

29Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

44Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

87Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

26Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

70Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

31Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$59,630$24,822 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$41,943

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$59,630

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$41,943Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$76,058Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE62.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE75.5%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$43,809Year 1

$59,630Year 4

$54,363Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,969

Estimated loan payment$276

44borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$59,630 vs. $50,680

$8,950 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$175,720 median wageDC estimate · 18,570 jobs · 11-9199$156,730–$195,190 middle 50% of DC wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHistorians$118,290 median wageDC estimate · 250 jobs · 19-3093$62,380–$147,220 middle 50% of DC wages+3.0% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeHistory Teachers, Postsecondary$85,550 median wageDC estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1125$64,990–$125,970 middle 50% of DC wages+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$82,750 median wageDC estimate · 2,800 jobs · 25-2031$66,480–$102,320 middle 50% of DC wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$156,730 median wageDC estimate · 1,540 jobs · 11-9121$126,730–$185,220 middle 50% of DC wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCurators$93,310 median wageDC estimate · 140 jobs · 25-4012$74,030–$111,530 middle 50% of DC wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeArchivists$93,040 median wageDC estimate · 200 jobs · 25-4011$76,320–$108,160 middle 50% of DC wages+3.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMuseum Technicians and Conservators$76,110 median wageDC estimate · 520 jobs · 25-4013$50,750–$98,890 middle 50% of DC wages+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTour Guides and EscortsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 39-7011

Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Washington, DC

Georgetown University

$15,871 higher earnings · $9,360 less debt · $1,128 lower annual net price

Earnings: $75,501
Debt: $16,640
Annual net price: $40,815

View outcomes →

Washington, DC

George Washington University

$11,104 higher earnings · $2,750 less debt · $5,357 lower annual net price

Earnings: $70,734
Debt: $23,250
Annual net price: $36,586

View outcomes →

Washington, DC

The Catholic University of America

$12,382 lower annual net price

Earnings: $52,980
Debt: $26,000
Annual net price: $29,561

View outcomes →

Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

$76,773 higher earnings · $7,000 less debt · $12,424 lower annual net price

Earnings: $136,403
Debt: $19,000
Annual net price: $29,519

View outcomes →

Compare these programs →

DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

29 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →