2026 Best History Schools in Virginia
History programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their history programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools to find the best for history students.
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Best Schools for History in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall history education in Virginia.
Top Schools in History
Our analysis ranked College Of William And Mary the best school in the country for a degree in history. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. College Of William And Mary awarded about 115 history degrees 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.
Read more about the history program at College Of William And Mary
Washington And Lee University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 history students who graduated with this degree at Washington And Lee University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $76,810 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,074.
Read more about the history program at Washington And Lee University
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 149 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $34,028 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,352 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Richmond is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 11 history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. History graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,634.
See the full history program report for University Of Richmond
James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 82 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from James Madison University earn around $29,000 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for James Madison University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #6 position for history this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 46 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $33,319 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,499.
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Virginia Military Institute landed the #7 spot for history this year. This small public university is located in the town of Lexington. Virginia Military Institute graduates 76% of students within six years. Virginia Military Institute awarded about 44 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $42,543 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Virginia Military Institute
George Mason University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 124 history students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $38,921 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
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Hampden Sydney College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 20 history degrees were awarded at Hampden Sydney College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Hampden Sydney College generally make around $42,949. Hampden Sydney College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full history program report for Hampden Sydney College
Christopher Newport University came in at #10 for history this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. Christopher Newport University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 43 history degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $29,386 in their early career. Christopher Newport University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Mary Washington placed #11 among the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 29 history degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $31,965 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,018 to complete this degree.
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Old Dominion University earned the #12 position for history this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 history students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $36,733. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Old Dominion University
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #13 among the best history schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 69 history students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $29,794 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Virginia Commonwealth University
Longwood University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 20 history degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. History graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $37,404 early in their careers. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans.
See the full history program report for Longwood University
Bridgewater College came in at #15 for history this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 history students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $32,771 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from Bridgewater College
Liberty University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 567 history degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. History graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $39,823 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from Liberty University
Roanoke College came in at #17 for history this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 17 history students who graduated with this degree at Roanoke College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Roanoke College generally make around $25,940. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the history program at Roanoke College
Mary Baldwin College earned the #18 position for history this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Staunton. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Mary Baldwin College awarded about 12 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Mary Baldwin College generally make around $60,386. Students borrow a median of $29,562 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Mary Baldwin College
Virginia State University placed #19 among the best history schools. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Virginia State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 history students who graduated with this degree at Virginia State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $40,620 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,010.
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Regent University landed the #20 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 18 history degrees were awarded at Regent University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Regent University earn around $50,406 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Virginias College At Wise ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wise. The University Of Virginias College At Wise graduates 47% of students within six years. About 14 history degrees were awarded at The University Of Virginias College At Wise in the most recent year. History graduates of The University Of Virginias College At Wise earn a median of $43,988 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,714 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 40 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
