Executive Summary
Graduates with a History degree from Marshall University earn a median salary of $43,784 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WV, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $49,085. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.5 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
$31,905
Typical Career
$43,784
Top Performers
$60,696
Estimated break-even: 15.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$292
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,649. Most students can comfortably afford about a $292 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in West Virginia buys what costs $0.89 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
$49,085
Nominal: $43,784 in West Virginia (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% 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 | $18,379 | $24,558 | $33,005 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $31,905 | $43,784 | $60,696 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,325 | $58,497 | $84,706 |
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 $43,784 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WV, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $43,784 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $49,085 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 (26.1%), Educational Services (19.7%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (9.1%). The estimated break-even point for choosing a college education over a high-school-only path is approximately 15.5 years, indicating a significant return on investment for those who pursue a degree. Overall, while the earnings may start lower, the long-term financial benefits and diverse career opportunities in various sectors can provide a solid rationale for pursuing a History degree at Marshall University.
Compare with Another School
See how the History degree at Marshall University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Marshall 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.