History programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 653 schools to find the best for history students.
Where you study history matters for your future. That is why we built our Best History Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best History Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Rice University this year for history. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 26 history degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
See the full history program report for Rice University
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Duke University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 38 history degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Duke University earn around $60,750 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Duke University
New York University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 106 history degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. History graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,636 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for New York University
Dartmouth College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #4 spot this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students 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. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Get the full history details for Dartmouth College
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #5. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 237 history students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Harvard University earn around $53,468 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,721 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Harvard University
Stanford University came in at #6 for history this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 41 history degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Stanford University
Boston College placed #7 among the best history schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. Boston College awarded about 65 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $46,483. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Get the full history details for Boston College
Santa Clara University came in at #8 for history this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 14 history students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Santa Clara University
Amherst College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Amherst College graduates 94% of students 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.
Get the full history details for Amherst College
Johns Hopkins University placed #10 among the best history schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 history degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. History graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Read more about the history program at Johns Hopkins University
Yale University landed the #11 spot for history this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 192 history students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $54,700 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Get the full history details for Yale University
Tufts University came in at #12 for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 history students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $41,447 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full history program report for Tufts University
Bucknell University landed the #13 spot for history this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bucknell University awarded about 15 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Bucknell University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 19 history degrees in the most recent data 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.
Read more about the history program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Brown University earned the #15 position 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. There were roughly 66 history students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Brown University earn a median of $42,296 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,491.
See the full history program report for Brown University
Washington University In St Louis placed #16 among the best history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 history students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
Get the full history details for Washington University In St Louis
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 91 history degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $34,592 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,838.
Read more about the history program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Middlebury College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 history students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Middlebury College earn around $40,195 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
More information about a degree in history from Middlebury College
University Of Southern California ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 88 history degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from University Of Southern California earn around $36,876 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,638 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from University Of Southern California
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #20 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 66 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $59,003 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
See the full history program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Bates College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 19 history degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Bates College earn around $43,933 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,226 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Bates College
Colgate University placed #22 among the best history schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 history students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $52,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Colgate University
College Of William And Mary landed the #23 spot for history this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. About 140 history degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $31,595 in the first couple years of their career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
See the full history program report for College Of William And Mary
Wesleyan University landed the #24 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Wesleyan University awarded about 31 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from Wesleyan University
Case Western Reserve University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 13 history degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106.
Get the full history details for Case Western Reserve University
Rest of the Top 50 History Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong history education:
This list is compiled 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 · 653 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).
