History degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 566 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for history students pursuing a degree.
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. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 history students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $75,299 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Rice University
Duke University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 history students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $60,750. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Duke University
Boston College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 49 history students who graduated with this degree at Boston College 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. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from Boston College
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 22 history degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Get the full history details for Stanford University
Harvard University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 165 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $53,468. Students borrow a median of $12,721 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Harvard University
Dartmouth College landed the #6 spot for history 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. Dartmouth College awarded about 57 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $61,127 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
Get the full history details for Dartmouth College
Santa Clara University landed the #7 spot for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. 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. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
Get the full history details for Santa Clara University
New York University came in at #8 for history this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 59 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from New York University earn around $39,636 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Get the full history details for New York University
Yale University landed the #9 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 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.
Read more about the history program at Yale University
Amherst College landed the #10 spot for history this year. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. 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. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Amherst College
Tufts University placed #11 among the best history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 history students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $41,447. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full history program report for Tufts University
Bucknell University earned the #12 position for history this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Bucknell University awarded about 15 history degrees 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.
Get the full history details for Bucknell University
Northwestern University placed #13 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 history degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $50,161. Students borrow a median of $15,917 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Northwestern University
Johns Hopkins University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Read more about the history program at 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. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 history students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $42,296. Typical student debt for the program is $13,491.
See the full history program report 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. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 history students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $83,560 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #17 for history this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 65 history degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. History graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $34,592 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,838.
See the full history program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Washington University In St Louis placed #18 among the best history schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 18 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
See the full history program report for Washington University In St Louis
Middlebury College placed #19 among the best history schools. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 35 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $40,195 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Middlebury College
University Of Southern California came in at #20 for history this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 77 history degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. History graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $36,876 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,638.
More information about a degree in history from University Of Southern California
College Of William And Mary placed #21 among the best history schools. 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 122 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $31,595 early in their careers. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
Get the full history details for College Of William And Mary
Bates College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 history students who graduated with this degree at Bates College 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. Students borrow a median of $12,226 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Bates College
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #23 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. 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. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
Get the full history details for University Of Pennsylvania
Colgate University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. Colgate University awarded about 27 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Colgate University generally make around $52,924. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286.
See the full history program report for Colgate University
Vanderbilt University earned the #25 position for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 30 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $46,856 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in history from Vanderbilt University
Rest of the Top 50 History Schools
These schools also placed among the best for history this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 566 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).
