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 27 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best history schools.
What’s on this page:
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the history degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Harvard University this year for history. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 237 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $53,468 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,721 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at Harvard University
A rank of #2 makes Boston College one of the top schools for history. 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. There were roughly 65 history students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $46,483. Boston College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. See the full history program report for Boston College
Amherst College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #3 spot this year. 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. There were roughly 25 history students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Amherst College earn around $56,444 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398. See the full history program report for Amherst College
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Tufts University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tufts University awarded about 40 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $41,447. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for Tufts University
Williams College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #5. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 history degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $53,652 in their early career. Williams College graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Williams College
Wellesley College placed #6 among the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 11 history degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. History graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans. Read more about the history program at Wellesley College
College Of The Holy Cross landed the #7 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 history students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Holy Cross in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $42,345 in their early career. College Of The Holy Cross graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full history details for College Of The Holy Cross
Boston University placed #8 among the best history schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 49 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Get the full history details for Boston University
Northeastern University earned the #9 position for history this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 47 history students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. See the full history program report for Northeastern University
Brandeis University earned the #10 position for history this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 history students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $33,903. Brandeis University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Brandeis University
Smith College came in at #11 for history this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. Smith College awarded about 28 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Smith College earn a median of $26,131 early in their careers. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Smith College
Fitchburg State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 history degrees were awarded at Fitchburg State University in the most recent year. History graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $46,184 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,635 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in history from Fitchburg State University
Gordon College came in at #13 for history this year. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Gordon College awarded about 10 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Gordon College generally make around $37,097. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in history from Gordon College
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 71 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $26,805 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750. Get the full history details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $27,586 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. Get the full history details for University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Clark University placed #16 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 77% of students finish within six years. Clark University awarded about 24 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Clark University earn around $43,257 in the first couple years of their career. Clark University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full history program report for Clark University
Bridgewater State University placed #17 among the best history schools. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Bridgewater State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 history students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $34,215 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in history from Bridgewater State University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #18 spot for history this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth awarded about 19 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $30,581 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #19 for history this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 40 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $46,908 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $24,862 in student loans. See the full history program report for University Of Massachusetts Boston
Wheaton College Massachusetts ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 history degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent year. History graduates of Wheaton College Massachusetts earn a median of $32,896 early in their careers. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates carry a median of $25,990 in student loans. See the full history program report for Wheaton College Massachusetts
Salem State University landed the #21 spot for history this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. Salem State University awarded about 28 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Salem State University earn around $29,307 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full history program report for Salem State University
Worcester State University landed the #22 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 history degrees were awarded at Worcester State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $38,028 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,610. More information about a degree in history from Worcester State University
Suffolk University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suffolk University awarded about 13 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $57,261 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in history from Suffolk University
Westfield State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best history schools. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 21 history degrees were awarded at Westfield State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Westfield State University earn around $24,879 in the first couple years of their career. Westfield State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Westfield State University
Framingham State University placed #25 among the best history schools. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. Framingham State University graduates 48% of students within six years. About 14 history degrees were awarded at Framingham State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $34,836 in their early career. Framingham State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Framingham State University
These schools also placed among the best for history this year:
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 · 27 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.