History Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
History degree analysis for Worcester, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
History in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering History programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/month. 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 Worcester is approximately $51,480.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
History Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average History salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
History ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a History degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$10,530
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
14 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$87,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($234,000) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for History in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for History
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for History in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for History graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common History Job Titles
History in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$60K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Springfield, MA
$59K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$59K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$48K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$57K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$45K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$52K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Worcester
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$59K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
History Degree in Worcester — 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 Worcester.