by our College Data Analytics TeamHistory is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 566 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best history schools.
What’s on this page:
See the highest-ranked history schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.
Leading the list is Rice University, our #1 school for history. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 19 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904. Get the full history details for Rice University
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Duke University, which ranked #2. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 25 history degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. History graduates of Duke University earn a median of $60,750 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. See the full history program report for Duke University
Boston College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 49 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Boston College earn around $41,341 in the first couple years of their career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Boston College
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 22 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492. Get the full history details for Stanford University
A rank of #5 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for history. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 165 history degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. History graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $53,468 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $12,721 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Harvard University
Dartmouth College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 57 history degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $61,127 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for Dartmouth College
Santa Clara University landed the #7 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 14 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $79,380 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for Santa Clara University
New York University earned the #8 position for history this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 59 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from New York University generally make around $39,636. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for New York University
Yale University placed #9 among the best history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 121 history students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Yale University earn around $54,700 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for Yale University
Amherst College came in at #10 for history this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Amherst. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 25 history degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. History graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $56,444 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398. More information about a degree in history from Amherst College
Tufts University placed #11 among the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 36 history degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Tufts University earn around $41,447 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750. Get the full history details for Tufts University
Bucknell University landed the #12 spot for history this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lewisburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 history students who graduated with this degree at Bucknell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Bucknell University earn around $64,331 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Bucknell University
Northwestern University came in at #13 for history this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 history students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $50,161 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,917 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Northwestern University
Johns Hopkins University landed the #14 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 10 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $84,850 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Get the full history details for Johns Hopkins University
Brown University landed the #15 spot for history this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 47 history degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $42,296. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,491 in student loans. Get the full history details for Brown University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 17 history degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. History graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #17 spot for history this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 65 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $34,592 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,838 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Washington University In St Louis placed #18 among the best history schools. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 history students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Read more about the history program at Washington University In St Louis
Middlebury College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Middlebury College awarded about 35 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $40,195. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Get the full history details for Middlebury College
University Of Southern California ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from University Of Southern California earn around $36,876 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $12,638 in student loans. Get the full history details for University Of Southern California
College Of William And Mary came in at #21 for history this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 122 history students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $31,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in history from College Of William And Mary
Bates College placed #22 among the best history schools. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. Bates College awarded about 19 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Bates College earn around $43,933 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,226. Read more about the history program at Bates College
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #23 position for history this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 43 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $48,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for University Of Pennsylvania
Colgate University came in at #24 for history this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 27 history degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $52,924. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286. More information about a degree in history from Colgate University
Vanderbilt University earned the #25 position for history this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 30 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $46,856. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Read more about the history program at Vanderbilt University
These schools also placed among the best for history this year:
These schools also earned a top-quality badge for history this year:
Also worth considering for history:
Explore the best history schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 566 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.