by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,356 U.S. colleges awarded 31,424 degrees and certificates in History. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 653 schools in its 2027 Best History Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,509 one year after completing, rising to $53,498 after four years.
For students interested in studying, preserving and learning from the past, History is an ideal field of study. Most students either major in General History or choose a concentration in an area of interest. This allows you to explore in depth the history of a particular time period, region or subject. Some examples are American History, European History, Military History, Women's History or Modern World History.
Coursework will involve various history classes in your subject of interest. Other classes history majors might take are English, language, philosophy and anthropology. The goal of the major is to discover the truth of the past and apply the lessons learned to improve our present world.
A degree in History involves the study of History. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Study And Interpretation Of Past Events, Institutions, Issues, And Cultures.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, history is a popular field of study, with 31,424 degrees awarded annually. 1,356 colleges award history degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 696.
By level, the 31,424 awards include 19 certificates, 2,399 associate degrees, 23,454 bachelor’s degrees, 4,692 master’s degrees and 858 doctorates.
Women earned 44% of history degrees and certificates in the latest year (13,705 of 31,424). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20,395) and Hispanic or Latino (5,176), and international students earned 784.
College Factual ranks 653 schools in its 2027 Best History Schools ranking, including 83 for associate degrees, 566 for bachelor’s degrees, 95 for master’s degrees and 21 for doctorates. It also ranks history schools within 51 states. In all, 1,356 colleges offer history programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value History Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common history credential is the bachelor’s degree: 23,454 of the 31,424 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to history call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Law and Government, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
History majors tend to have great attention for detail and delight in learning obscure facts and dates. Be prepared to memorize vast amounts of information and spend a lot of time reading primary source documents, analyzing artifacts, visiting museums and writing lengthy research papers. Some of your assignments will involve conducting interviews, working on group projects, creating presentations and writing reports.
Some of the critical skills history majors need to succeed are strong reading, writing and analysis skills. Students will read a variety of texts including fiction works, biographies, first-hand accounts and historical journals. They will also visit museums and analyze artifacts from the past. Assignments will involve critically analyzing and researching material to find out the true story of what happened in the past.
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How long a history degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,399 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23,454 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,692 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 858 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to history, at 30.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.1% |
| Master’s degree | 24.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
17 occupations are related to History, with an average median salary of $102,083; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include World History Teacher, History Teacher, Lecturer and History Adjunct Instructor.
History is a broad field of study that can lead to a variety of career paths. Many history majors go on to become teachers or college professors. Other career paths are that of historian, curator, museum director, writer or researcher. History is also a common background for students who go on to receive advanced degrees in law. Graduates can easily use their skills for careers in business, politics, or nonprofit work.
The occupation related to history with the most projected jobs is Curators, at 1,554,871.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Curators | 1,554,871 | 4.1% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Archivists | 1,193,221 | 1.6% |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | 663,221 | 0.0% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
History graduates earn a median $33,509 one year after completing their program, $53,498 after four years and $52,397 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,509 |
| 4 years | $53,498 |
| 5 years | $52,397 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to history is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
History includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is History (31,424). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| History | 31,424 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
