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2023 Most Focused Colleges for History in California

181 Ranked Colleges
5,392 Degrees Awarded
$31,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California” ranking.

History is the 30th most popular major in the country with 32,731 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,467 and had an average of $23,587 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 5,392 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,322 and $18,158 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California” ranking looked at 181 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in history. That schools that top this list have a program in history in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The history school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for History in California

1
University of Saint Katherine crest
University of Saint Katherine
San Marcos, California

Out of the 181 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Saint Katherine landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Saint Katherine is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 2 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about History at University of Saint Katherine

2
Westmont crest
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westmont College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California. Westmont is a small school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 12 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Westmont History Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanguard University of Southern California. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California. Vanguard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Costa Mesa, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Vanguard University of Southern California History Report

4
Claremont McKenna crest
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Claremont McKenna College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Claremont McKenna College is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 14 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Claremont McKenna History Report

5
Pomona crest
Pomona College
Claremont, California

Out of the 181 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Pomona College landed the #5 spot on the list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Pomona History Report

6
CHC crest
Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, California

Crafton Hills College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Crafton Hills College is located in Yucaipa, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

Read more about History at Crafton Hills College

7
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on History at Oxy

8

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 344 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about History at University of California - Los Angeles

9

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 135 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about History at University of California - Santa Cruz

10
Whittier crest
Whittier College
Whittier, California

Whittier College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking. Whittier College is a small school located in Whittier, California that handed out 10 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at Whittier

11
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Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

With a ranking of #11, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at SSU

12

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 161 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at UCSB

13
College of the Desert crest
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California

College of the Desert ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Located in Palm Desert, California, this fairly large public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

Full College of the Desert History Report

14

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 134 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on History at UCR

15

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 51 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Stanislaus History Report

16
College of the Siskiyous crest
College of the Siskiyous
Weed, California

College of the Siskiyous did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Weed, California, and it awarded 6 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Full College of the Siskiyous History Report

17

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Bakersfield did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Bakersfield, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

Full California State University - Bakersfield History Report

18
Pitzer crest
Pitzer College
Claremont, California

With a ranking of #18, Pitzer College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Pitzer History Report

19
GCC crest
Glendale Community College
Glendale, California

Glendale Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Glendale Community College is a fairly large school located in Glendale, California that handed out 29 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at Glendale Community College

20

California State University - Sacramento ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at California State University - Sacramento

21

California State University - San Marcos ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 70 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on History at California State University - San Marcos

22
Woodland Community College crest
Woodland Community College
Woodland, California

Woodland Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking. Woodland, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about History at Woodland Community College

23
Porterville College crest
Porterville College
Porterville, California

Porterville College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California ranking, coming in at #23. Porterville College is located in Porterville, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

Read more about History at Porterville College

24
Yuba College crest
Yuba College
Marysville, California

Yuba College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. Yuba College is located in Marysville, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

Full Yuba College History Report

25

With a ranking of #25, California State University - Channel Islands did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California list. CSUCI is located in Camarillo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at California State University - Channel Islands

Rest of the Best 28 in Schools Highly Focused on History Major in California

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California
28

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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