Associate-14% vs national median44 grads tracked
History at Palo Alto College
Ranked 12th of 12 associate programs in History by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$30,273
middle 50%: $21,257 – $39,242
Median · 5 years out
$38,279
middle 50%: $29,704 – $63,270
Median · 10 years out
$53,107
middle 50%: $35,452 – $63,874
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for History (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Palo Alto College's associate program in History earn a median $30,273 one year after graduating, rising to $53,107 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $44,737 for this field, ranking 12th of 12 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
10.4 yrs
≈ $12,816 total interest
Same major at other universities
Other majors at Palo Alto College
Engineering (Associate)
$87,351 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Associate)
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$56,272 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Certificate)
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Marketing (Associate)
$53,921 · 5 yrs out
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Associate)
$53,793 · 5 yrs out