U.S. median for this major: $50,540.
College Scorecard field of study; 40 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 44% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $76,058. College Scorecard.
American University History: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses American University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,233 | $95,023 | 4.4 years |
| $30–48k | $20,444 | $83,616 | 3.9 years |
| $48–75k | $26,035 | $106,483 | 5.0 years |
| $75–110k | $30,063 | $122,958 | 5.7 years |
| $110k+ | $53,673 | $219,523 | 10.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of History graduates 4 years after graduating ($59,630) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $21,446 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
History at District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia college we cover that reports History graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | $75,501 | $16,640 | $40,815 | 95% |
| 2 | George Washington University | $70,734 | $23,250 | $36,586 | 84% |
| 3 | American University | $59,630 | $26,000 | $41,943 | 75% |
| 4 | The Catholic University of America | $52,980 | $26,000 | $29,561 | 79% |
3 more District of Columbia colleges offer History but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for History graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Museum Technicians and Conservators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at American University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About American University
- Acceptance rate: 62% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,370
- Full cost breakdown · all 44 majors · overview
Related majors at American University
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages—
- Philosophy—
- Liberal Arts / General Studies—
- Area Studies—
- Studio Art—
American University History questions
How much do American University History graduates earn?
History graduates of American University earn a median $59,630 four years after graduating and $43,809 one year after. The U.S. median for History graduates across 454 colleges is $50,540.
How much debt do American University History graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for History graduates of American University is $26,000, about 44% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,000.
Is American University a good school for History in District of Columbia?
On pay, History graduates of American University earn $59,630 four years out, $5,552 below the median for the same major across 4 District of Columbia colleges ($65,182) and $9,090 above the U.S. median ($50,540). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does American University rank for History in District of Columbia?
Of 4 District of Columbia colleges reporting History graduate earnings, American University ranks 3rd. The highest is Georgetown University at $75,501.
What jobs do History graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $80,300 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and $72,040 nationally. Others include natural sciences managers and museum technicians and conservators.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “American University History: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/american-university/majors/history (College Scorecard and BLS data).