U.S. median for this major: $50,540.
College Scorecard field of study; 56 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 55% 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 $28,596. College Scorecard.
University of Iowa 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 University of Iowa'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 | $15,316 | $64,940 | 6.4 years |
| $30–48k | $15,489 | $65,673 | 6.5 years |
| $48–75k | $19,930 | $84,503 | 8.3 years |
| $75–110k | $23,811 | $100,959 | 9.9 years |
| $110k+ | $26,266 | $111,368 | 11.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (57% 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 ($46,819) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,158 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | Coe College | $58,240 | — | $18,745 | 66% |
| 2 | Grinnell College | $54,703 | $17,500 | $17,648 | 88% |
| 3 | Iowa State University | $52,934 | $26,007 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa | $49,313 | $21,776 | $15,901 | 68% |
| 5 | University of Iowa | $46,819 | $25,978 | $22,531 | 75% |
| 6 | Luther College | $45,737 | — | $23,097 | 71% |
| 7 | Drake University | $42,256 | — | $29,127 | 74% |
17 more Iowa 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 University of Iowa, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 84% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $64,762
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Iowa
- English$51,679
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$54,530
- Philosophy$56,786
- Linguistics—
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$61,200
- Area Studies$43,083
University of Iowa History questions
How much do University of Iowa History graduates earn?
History graduates of University of Iowa earn a median $46,819 four years after graduating and $33,117 one year after. The U.S. median for History graduates across 454 colleges is $50,540.
How much debt do University of Iowa History graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for History graduates of University of Iowa is $25,978, about 55% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,000.
Is University of Iowa a good school for History in Iowa?
On pay, History graduates of University of Iowa earn $46,819 four years out, $2,494 below the median for the same major across 7 Iowa colleges ($49,313) and $3,721 below the U.S. median ($50,540). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Iowa rank for History in Iowa?
Of 7 Iowa colleges reporting History graduate earnings, University of Iowa ranks 5th. The highest is Coe College at $58,240.
What jobs do History graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $62,100 in the Iowa City, IA 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: “University of Iowa History: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-iowa/majors/history (College Scorecard and BLS data).