by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,509 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s” ranking looked at 379 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in history. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in history.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 for a Master’s”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern New Hampshire University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Manchester, New Hampshire. The school has a large population, and it awarded 218 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 379 schools in the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, American Public University System landed the #2 spot on the list. American Military University is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 177 masters’s history degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Out of the 379 schools in the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Liberty University landed the #3 spot on the list. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 148 masters’s history degrees to qualified students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Skysong. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s history degrees to 135 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pace University - New York. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s. Pace University - New York is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 120 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Norwich University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. Norwich is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Vermont. It awarded 63 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Ashland University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. Ashland University is located in Ashland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 masters’s history degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Yale University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 55 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #9. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about History at Columbia University in the City of New York
New York University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 50 degrees to qualified masters’s history students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #11, Harvard University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s history degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #12. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 masters’s history degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 34 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #14. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a medium-sized school located in Kearney, Nebraska that handed out 29 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.
George Mason University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. George Mason University is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 29 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, 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 86%.
The Graduate Center, CUNY ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. Located in New York, New York, this medium-sized public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s history students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #17, Simmons University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 27 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. UNCW is a fairly large public school situated in Wilmington, North Carolina. It awarded 25 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of North Carolina at Wilmington History Report
California State University - Fullerton landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 25 masters’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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s history degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #21. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 22 masters’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about History at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
University of Massachusetts - Boston landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this fairly large public school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified masters’s history students in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s history degrees to 21 students 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%.
University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Texas State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended History Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified masters’s history students in 2020-2021.
Not only did these schools make the top 55 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Providence College | Providence, RI |
| 56 | University of Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| 56 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 56 | University of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA |
| 56 | Monmouth University | West Long Branch, NJ |
| 56 | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN |
| 56 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 56 | Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, TN |
| 56 | University of Colorado at Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
