by our College Data Analytics Team
[Historic Preservation](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/historic-preservation/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the early-career earnings of their historic preservation graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose historic preservation graduates go on to earn the most.
College Of Charleston tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying historic preservation schools in the United States. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a public institution. Historic Preservation graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of about $56,946 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Clemson University earned it the #2 place for historic preservation. Clemson University is a public school located in the suburb of Clemson. After graduating, historic preservation degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $56,730 annually.
Columbia University In The City Of New York produces some of the highest-paid graduates in historic preservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Historic Preservation graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $53,920 a year early in their careers.
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying historic preservation schools. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Historic Preservation graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of about $61,992 a year early in their careers.
University Of Georgia came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying historic preservation schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Historic Preservation graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of about $49,925 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #6 for historic preservation graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career historic preservation graduates from Eastern Michigan University make a median of around $44,127 per year.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Historic Preservation rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries historic preservation graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.