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2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for History in California

72 Ranked Colleges
3,102 Degrees Awarded
$26,792 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 32,731 people earned their degree in history, making the major the 30th most popular in the United States. 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. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,102 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,566 and $21,995 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 72 colleges that offered a degree in history. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in history.

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 “Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 319 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 UCLA

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 161 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about History at California State University - Long Beach

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 150 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full UCSB History Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 131 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on History at UC Berkeley

5

Out of the 72 schools in the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Riverside landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school awarded 125 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 more about History at University of California - Riverside

6

California State University - Sacramento ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 124 bachelors’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%.

Full California State University - Sacramento History Report

7

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 120 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 89%.

Read full report on History at California State University - Fullerton

8

With a ranking of #8, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 119 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on History at UC Santa Cruz

9

University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #9. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 112 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Full UC Davis History Report

10

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 93 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 CSUN

11
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #11. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 84 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SFSU History Report

12

California State University - Fresno came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Fresno State

12

University of California - Irvine landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 81 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 University of California - Irvine

14
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 78 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full University of Southern California History Report

15

With a ranking of #15, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 72 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full CSUSB History Report

16

With a ranking of #16, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. University of California - San Diego is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 69 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full University of California - San Diego History Report

17

California State University - San Marcos landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. CSUSM is a fairly large school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 68 bachelors’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 more about History at California State University - San Marcos

18

California State University - Chico came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 67 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Chico State

18
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #18, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s list. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about History at SDSU

18

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 67 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles History Report

21

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Pomona, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Cal Poly Pomona

22

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about History at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

23

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #23. CSUB is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 50 bachelors’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at California State University - Bakersfield

23
25

California State University - Stanislaus landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about History at California State University - Stanislaus

25

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major in California for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #25. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUDH History Report

Notes and References

References

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