WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+1% vs national median50 grads tracked

History at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Ranked 11th of 34 doctoral (research) programs in History by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$51,851
middle 50%: $39,793 – $65,194
Median · 5 years out
$78,439
middle 50%: $70,606 – $102,156
Median · 10 years out
$82,300
middle 50%: $68,626 – $130,533

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for History (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Pennsylvania State University (The)'s doctoral (research) program in History earn a median $51,851 one year after graduating, rising to $82,300 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $77,308 for this field, ranking 11th of 34 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
5.5 yrs
≈ $6,229 total interest

Same major at other universities

State University of New York at Buffalo
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$79,247 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$79,100 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$78,475 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$78,019 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$77,308 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$77,013 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$76,854 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$76,854 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$76,015 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University (The)

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$182,178 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$177,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$143,044 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$135,252 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$130,869 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$122,394 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$116,440 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$115,495 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's)
$115,004 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$114,831 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,734 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$114,727 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

History
Compare universities