History at Georgia Southern University
GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 54.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a History degree from Georgia Southern University earn a median salary of $48,609 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $53,712. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$36,425
Typical Career
$48,609
Top Performers
$61,407
Estimated break-even: 13.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$324
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,051. Most students can comfortably afford about a $324 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$53,712
Nominal: $48,609 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $23,095 | $31,778 | $43,556 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $36,425 | $48,609 | $61,407 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $45,023 | $59,735 | $77,761 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $48,609 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $48,609 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050)
= $53,712 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for History graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (20.4%), Educational Services (20.0%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (9.8%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 13.1 years, suggesting that while the ROI may take time to materialize, the diverse career paths available can lead to fulfilling opportunities. Overall, a History degree from Georgia Southern University offers a reasonable return on investment, particularly for those interested in the fields mentioned.
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Other Degrees at Georgia Southern University
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.