by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 132 U.S. colleges awarded 998 degrees and certificates in History Education. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best History Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing, rising to $58,727 after four years.
A degree in History Education covers History Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach History Programs At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., history education is a widely-pursued major, with 998 degrees awarded annually. 132 colleges award history education degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 171.
By level, the 998 awards include 9 associate degrees, 621 bachelor’s degrees and 368 master’s degrees.
Women earned 43% of history education degrees and certificates in the latest year (430 of 998). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (730) and Hispanic or Latino (144), and international students earned 5.
College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best History Education Schools ranking, including 24 for bachelor’s degrees and 11 for master’s degrees. It also ranks history education schools within 17 states. In all, 132 colleges offer history education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value History Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common history education credential is the bachelor’s degree: 621 of the 998 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to history education call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a history education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 621 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 368 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to history education, at 54.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 54.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.9% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to History Education, with an average median salary of $74,461; the strongest outlook belongs to History Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Professor, Adjunct Instructor and Assistant Professor.
The occupation related to history education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
History Education graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing their program, $58,727 after four years and $56,439 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,000 |
| 4 years | $58,727 |
| 5 years | $56,439 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to history education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
History Education has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 39,397 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (7,130), Reading Teacher Education (6,129) and Music Teacher Education (4,149). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 7,130 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,129 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,149 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 3,405 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 2,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,470 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 2,020 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,898 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,560 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,054 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
