History Degree in Boise, ID — Salary & ROI 2026
History degree analysis for Boise, ID. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.9 yrs
in Boise
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
History in Boise, ID Overview
Boise is one of Idaho's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 13,506. Public tuition averages $8,060/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in History has been declining, graduates with skills in Research and Writing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Boise is approximately $53,240.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$8,060/yr
Private Tuition
$34,250/yr
Room & Board
$13,521/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,294/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
58%
History Salary in Boise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boise's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average History salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Boise adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
History ROI Calculator for Boise
Estimate your return on investment for a History degree using local Boise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,060 | Private avg: $34,250
Boise avg aid: $15,294/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,890
vs HS diploma in Boise
ROI Payback Period
7.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boise
$155,676
Lifetime earnings premium ($242,000) minus total education cost ($86,324)
Student Loan Payoff for History in Boise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boise for History
Boise State University
public
$8,060/yr
$32,240 total
College of Idaho
private
$34,250/yr
$137,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
College of Western Idaho
$3,456/yr
Top Employers for History in Boise
Boise offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boise Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common History Job Titles
History in Nearby Idaho Cities
Meridian, ID
$46K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Nampa, ID
$42K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Idaho Falls, ID
$41K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Caldwell, ID
$41K starting · COL 92.8
3 colleges
Pocatello, ID
$52K starting · COL 118
6 colleges
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$46K starting · COL 105.2
3 colleges
Twin Falls, ID
$55K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Boise
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
History Degree in Boise — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare History ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Boise.