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Choosing a Great History School
The history program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for History rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best History Schools list, to help you choose. 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.
No school ranked higher than Johns Hopkins University this year for history. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 history students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $84,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Johns Hopkins University
Dartmouth College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 32 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Dartmouth College earn around $61,127 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
See the full history program report for Dartmouth College
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 107 history degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. History graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,636 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for New York University
Stanford University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 history students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data 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
Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 history degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Northwestern University earn around $50,161 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $15,917 in student loans.
Read more about the history program at Northwestern University
Duke University placed #6 among the best history schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 19 history degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $60,750 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
Get the full history details for Duke University
Harvard University landed the #7 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 224 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Harvard University earn around $53,468 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $12,721 in student loans.
Get the full history details for Harvard University
Tufts University earned the #8 position for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 30 history degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. History graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $41,447 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Tufts University
Boston College landed the #9 spot for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 64 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $46,483. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Boston College
Rice University came in at #10 for history this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 13 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $75,299 in their early career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
Read more about the history program at Rice University
Yale University placed #11 among the best history schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 198 history students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $54,700. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in history from Yale University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #12 for history this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 68 history degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Get the full history details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Colgate University placed #13 among the best history schools. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 30 history students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Colgate University
Washington University In St Louis landed the #14 spot for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 history students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $68,303 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Washington University In St Louis
Amherst College earned the #15 position for history this year. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 14 history degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $56,444. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398.
See the full history program report for Amherst College
Brown University landed the #16 spot for history this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 48 history degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Brown University earn around $42,296 in the first couple years of their career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,491 in student loans.
Get the full history details for Brown University
Georgetown University placed #17 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 66 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $49,876 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,640 in student loans.
Read more about the history program at Georgetown University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 18 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
Vanderbilt University landed the #19 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 55 history degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent 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.
Read more about the history program at Vanderbilt University
Case Western Reserve University landed the #20 spot for history this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 17 history degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $74,459 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Case Western Reserve University
University Of Southern California earned the #21 position for history this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 92 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. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $12,638 in student loans.
Get the full history details for University Of Southern California
Bates College placed #22 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 history students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $43,933. Typical student debt for the program is $12,226.
See the full history program report for Bates College
University Of Miami ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 20 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $35,633 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for University Of Miami
University Of Notre Dame earned the #24 position for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 58 history degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $39,522 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full history program report for University Of Notre Dame
College Of William And Mary came in at #25 for history this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 115 history students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $31,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
More information about a degree in history from College Of William And Mary
Rest of the Top 50 History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s history ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1480 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).
