History Degree in Fort Collins, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
History degree analysis for Fort Collins, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.3 yrs
in Fort Collins
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
History in Fort Collins, CO Overview
While Fort Collins has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, History students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,826/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Fort Collins is approximately $55,440.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,138/yr
Private Tuition
$33,574/yr
Room & Board
$19,826/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,695/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
History Salary in Fort Collins (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Collins's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average History salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Fort Collins adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
History ROI Calculator for Fort Collins
Estimate your return on investment for a History degree using local Fort Collins tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,138 | Private avg: $33,574
Fort Collins avg aid: $10,695/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,340
vs HS diploma in Fort Collins
ROI Payback Period
11.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Collins
$124,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($252,000) minus total education cost ($127,856)
Student Loan Payoff for History in Fort Collins
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Collins for History
Colorado State University
public
$12,138/yr
$48,552 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Front Range Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for History in Fort Collins
Fort Collins offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Collins Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common History Job Titles
History in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$56K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$49K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$47K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$45K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$46K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$46K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$54K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Fort Collins
Chinese Studies
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$63K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$63K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$53K starting · 7 yr ROI
Classics
$63K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$63K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
History Degree in Fort Collins — 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 Fort Collins.