History degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1480 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for history students pursuing a degree.
Boston College tops our 2026 ranking of the best history schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 history degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Boston College earn around $41,341 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 24 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $50,161. Students borrow a median of $15,917 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 history students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. History graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $61,127 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 17 history students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #5. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 history students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Duke University earn a median of $60,750 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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Harvard University earned the #6 position for history this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 141 history degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $53,468. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $12,721 in student loans.
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Yale University placed #7 among the best history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 111 history students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Yale University earn around $54,700 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University placed #8 among the best history schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 history students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Tufts University earn around $41,447 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
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Rice University landed the #9 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 10 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
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New York University landed the #10 spot for history this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 67 history students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. History graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,636 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 history students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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Colgate University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. Colgate University awarded about 30 history degrees 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.
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Washington University In St Louis earned the #13 position for history this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 22 history degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $68,303 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University landed the #14 spot for history this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 history degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. History graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $46,856 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Amherst College landed the #15 spot 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. Amherst College awarded about 14 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $56,444. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398.
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Brown University came in at #16 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%. There were roughly 38 history students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $42,296 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,491.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 history students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. History graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323.
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Case Western Reserve University placed #18 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 history students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
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Georgetown University landed the #19 spot for history this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 50 history degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $49,876 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,640.
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University Of Southern California earned the #20 position for history this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 78 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $36,876 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,638 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 28 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $39,522 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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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. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 17 history students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Bates College earn around $43,933 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,226.
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University Of Miami came in at #23 for history this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. About 84% of students finish within six years. 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.
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College Of William And Mary placed #24 among the best history schools. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. College Of William And Mary awarded about 101 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $31,595. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 11 history degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s history ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 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).
