2027 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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for history students pursuing a degree.
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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
Leading the list is College Of William And Mary, our #1 school for history. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 140 history degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent 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.
See the full history program report for College Of William And Mary
University Of Richmond is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 18 history degrees were awarded at University Of Richmond in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $53,815 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,634.
See the full history program report for University Of Richmond
A rank of #3 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for history. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 113 history degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $34,028. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,352 in student loans.
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Washington And Lee University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #4. Set in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 12 history degrees were awarded at Washington And Lee University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Washington And Lee University earn around $76,810 in the first couple years of their career. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong history program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. James Madison University awarded about 70 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $29,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 38 history students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $33,319 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,499 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Virginia Military Institute came in at #7 for history this year. Located in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. Virginia Military Institute awarded about 40 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Virginia Military Institute earn around $42,543 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full history program report for Virginia Military Institute
George Mason University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 100 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from George Mason University earn around $38,921 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625.
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University Of Mary Washington came in at #9 for history this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. University Of Mary Washington awarded about 14 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $31,965 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,018.
More information about a degree in history from University Of Mary Washington
Christopher Newport University landed the #10 spot 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 28 history degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $29,386. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Christopher Newport University
Old Dominion University landed the #11 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 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.
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Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #12 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 69 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $29,794. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
Read more about the history program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Hampden Sydney College came in at #13 for history this year. Set in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney, Hampden Sydney College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 history students who graduated with this degree at Hampden Sydney College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Hampden Sydney College earn around $42,949 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full history program report for Hampden Sydney College
Radford University came in at #14 for history this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Radford. Radford University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 21 history degrees were awarded at Radford University in the most recent year. History graduates of Radford University earn a median of $28,239 early in their careers. Radford University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in history from Radford University
Liberty University landed the #15 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 628 history students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $39,823 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from Liberty University
Longwood University landed the #16 spot for history this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Farmville. About 61% of students finish within six years. Longwood University awarded about 18 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $37,404. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Longwood University
Bridgewater College came in at #17 for history this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bridgewater. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 13 history degrees were awarded at Bridgewater College in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $32,771 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the history program at Bridgewater College
Roanoke College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Roanoke College awarded about 14 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $25,940 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the history program at Roanoke College
Regent University earned the #19 position for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Virginia Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 13 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. Regent University graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans.
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Notes and References
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 · 19 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.
