COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
History bachelor's degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public
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.
$9,139 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 34.3% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −47% · 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−$31,810
$8,000Annual price−$63,810
$16,000Annual price−$95,810
$24,000Current college-wide context−$127,810
$25,000Current college-wide context−$131,810
$32,000Annual price−$159,810
$40,000Annual price−$191,810
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,969Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$59,819$23,850 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$24,953
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$20,499
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$59,819
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$217/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$24,953Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$36,951Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE54.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE86.2%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.4% 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$4,985
Estimated loan payment$217
59borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$59,819 vs. $50,680
$9,139 above the national median for the same field and credential.
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$166,230 median wageVA estimate · 21,560 jobs · 11-9199$138,670–$195,190 middle 50% of VA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHistorians$101,920 median wageVA estimate · 180 jobs · 19-3093$78,700–$139,420 middle 50% of VA wages+3.0% projected U.S. growth · 300 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeHistory Teachers, Postsecondary$85,910 median wageVA estimate · 760 jobs · 25-1125$62,560–$114,330 middle 50% of VA wages+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,170 median wageVA estimate · 31,100 jobs · 25-2031$60,250–$83,820 middle 50% of VA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$150,570 median wageVA estimate · 1,470 jobs · 11-9121$110,300–$185,220 middle 50% of VA wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchivists$64,550 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,970 jobs · 25-4011+3.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeCurators$58,200 median wageVA estimate · 450 jobs · 25-4012$44,410–$79,500 middle 50% of VA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMuseum Technicians and Conservators$52,190 median wageVA estimate · 310 jobs · 25-4013$42,290–$68,200 middle 50% of VA 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
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
Educational Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Public Administration
Retail Trade
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
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.
Virginia Military Institute
$12,811 higher earnings · $999 less debt · $7,840 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $72,630
- Debt
- $19,500
- Annual net price
- $17,113
University of Virginia-Main Campus
$11,368 higher earnings · $1,147 less debt · $3,388 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $71,187
- Debt
- $19,352
- Annual net price
- $21,565
William & Mary
$3,813 higher earnings · $2,749 less debt · $5,857 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $63,632
- Debt
- $17,750
- Annual net price
- $19,096
Washington and Lee University
$40,268 higher earnings · $1,172 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $100,087
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $23,781
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
64 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →