Art History degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their art history programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 106 schools to find the best for art history students.
Where you study art history matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Art History rankings. For our Best Overall Art History School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Art 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.
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 art history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Dartmouth College the best school in the country for a degree in art history. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 11 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $30,246 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,663.
Read more about the art history program at Dartmouth College
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #2 spot this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 11 art history degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
Read more about the art history program at Stanford University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for art history. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the art history program at University Of Chicago
Georgetown University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #4 spot this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 10 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Art History graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
See the full art history program report for Georgetown University
Students looking for a strong art 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. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 30 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full art history program report for Harvard University
Duke University came in at #6 for art history this year. 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. About 13 art history degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
Get the full art history details for Duke University
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best art history schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the art history program make about $32,031 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #8 for art history this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 27 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $25,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,667.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #9 position for art history this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 41 art history degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Art History graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,978 to complete this degree.
See the full art history program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
Williams College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best art history schools. 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 10 art history degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Art History graduates of Williams College earn a median of $34,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete this degree.
See the full art history program report for Williams College
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #11 for art history this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 35 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $26,709. Typical student debt for the program is $23,477.
See the full art history program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #12 spot for art history this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $30,719. Students borrow a median of $19,316 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Princeton University earned the #13 position for art history this year. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 34 art history degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
See the full art history program report for Princeton University
Brown University placed #14 among the best art history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 12 art history students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $23,180. Typical student debt for the program is $17,300.
See the full art history program report for Brown University
University Of Georgia ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best art history schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 13 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $26,323. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,947 in student loans.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of Georgia
Washington University In St Louis earned the #16 position for art history this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 13 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
Read more about the art history program at Washington University In St Louis
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #17 for art history this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 art history degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the art history program make about $24,005 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,600.
See the full art history program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Fordham University placed #18 among the best art history schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 art history students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Art History graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $35,929 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,495.
See the full art history program report for Fordham University
University Of Southern California earned the #19 position for art history this year. 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. There were roughly 19 art history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $50,161. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of Southern California
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #20 among the best art history schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 44 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $30,577. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in art history from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of California Los Angeles placed #21 among the best art history schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 56 art history degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $21,220. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of California Los Angeles
Southern Methodist University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best art history schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Methodist University awarded about 15 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $38,154. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
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University Of Denver earned the #23 position for art history this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 13 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Graduates of the art history program make about $36,943 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534.
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American University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best art history schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. American University awarded about 24 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $35,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of California Davis landed the #25 spot for art history this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 art history students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,741. Students borrow a median of $15,061 to complete this degree.
Get the full art history details for University Of California Davis
Rest of the Top 50 Art History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s art history ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 106 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).
