History Degree in Peoria, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
History degree analysis for Peoria, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.9 yrs
in Peoria
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
History in Peoria, IL Overview
While Peoria has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, History students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,566/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 Peoria is approximately $45,760.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,032/yr
Private Tuition
$38,400/yr
Room & Board
$10,566/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,588/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
History Salary in Peoria (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Peoria's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average History salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Peoria adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
History ROI Calculator for Peoria
Estimate your return on investment for a History degree using local Peoria tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,032 | Private avg: $38,400
Peoria avg aid: $9,588/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$74,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,360
vs HS diploma in Peoria
ROI Payback Period
7.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Peoria
$133,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($208,000) minus total education cost ($74,392)
Student Loan Payoff for History in Peoria
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Peoria for History
Bradley University
private
$38,400/yr
$153,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Illinois Central College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for History in Peoria
Peoria offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Peoria Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common History Job Titles
History in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$48K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$41K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$48K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$45K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$40K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$35K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$40K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$40K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Peoria
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
History Degree in Peoria — 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 Peoria.