by our College Data Analytics TeamHistoric Preservation & Conservation was the 750th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 331 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 1.5% reduction in historic preservation and conservation degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 336.
Our 2023 Best Historic Preservation & Conservation Schools ranking analyzes 15 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for historic preservation and conservation students. Explore this or one of our many other custom historic preservation and conservation rankings further below.
A major in historic preservation and conservation prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Required skills include communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional historic preservation and conservation certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different historic preservation and conservation degree levels. You can get anything from a in historic preservation and conservation to the highest historic preservation and conservation degree, a . The type of historic preservation and conservation degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to historic preservation and conservation, with approximately 52.3% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to historic preservation and conservation tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 60.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 15.6% |
| Some College Courses | 6.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.4% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.4% |
55.7% of historic preservation and conservation workers have at least a master's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in historic preservation and conservation have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the historic preservation and conservation career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your historic preservation and conservation degree? Historic Preservation & Conservation careers are expected to grow 11.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to historic preservation and conservation.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Archivists | 7,800 | 14.7% |
| Historians | 3,500 | 6.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for historic preservation and conservation graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for historic preservation and conservation graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers historic preservation and conservation grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $66,380 |
| Archivists | $56,400 |
With over 86 different historic preservation and conservation degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased historic preservation and conservation school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the Historic Preservation area of study, Historic Preservation & Conservation has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cultural Resource Management & Policy Analysis | 57 |
| Other Historic Preservation & Conservation | 28 |
View All Historic Preservation and Conservation Related Majors >
