History programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. 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 232 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for history students pursuing a degree.
DEBUG: Checking offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "History (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "History (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in History" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in History" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MA in History" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MA in History" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 5
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 3 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.5
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 3
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 2 offers with relevance >= 1.0
Best Schools for History in the Middle Atlantic Region
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 history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 school for history. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 26 history students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #2 makes New York University one of the top schools for history. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 107 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. New York University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the history program at New York University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 68 history degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full history program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Colgate University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 history degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from Colgate University earn around $52,924 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,286.
Get the full history details for Colgate University
Students looking for a strong history program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #5. 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 66 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $49,876 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,640.
More information about a degree in history from Georgetown University
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for history this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 52 history degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their history degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $59,003 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from University Of Pennsylvania
Saint Josephs University placed #7 among the best history schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Josephs University awarded about 12 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Saint Josephs University earn around $65,421 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,426.
Read more about the history program at Saint Josephs University
Towson University placed #8 among the best history schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Towson. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 history students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Towson University earn around $40,162 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Towson University
Hamilton College landed the #9 spot for history this year. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 history students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $48,806. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Hamilton College
Princeton University earned the #10 position for history this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 96 history degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $45,363. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Princeton University
Cornell University landed the #11 spot for history this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 history students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Cornell University earn around $44,706 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,884 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Cornell University
Union College New York came in at #12 for history this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Schenectady. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 16 history degrees were awarded at Union College New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $52,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,869 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Union College New York
George Washington University landed the #13 spot for history this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 history degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. History graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $38,927 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at George Washington University
Franklin And Marshall College earned the #14 position for history this year. Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Franklin And Marshall College awarded about 11 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $43,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,411 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Franklin And Marshall College
Barnard College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 93% of students finish within six years. Barnard College awarded about 29 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $48,092 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,425.
More information about a degree in history from Barnard College
University Of Maryland College Park placed #16 among the best history schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 83 history degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $42,020 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $23,715 in student loans.
Get the full history details for University Of Maryland College Park
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #17 for history this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 183 history degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $53,828 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in history from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Loyola University Baltimore landed the #18 spot for history this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Loyola University Baltimore graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 history students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Baltimore in the most recent data year. History graduates of Loyola University Baltimore earn a median of $36,547 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full history program report for Loyola University Baltimore
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #19 for history this year. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Cuny College Of Staten Island graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 history students who graduated with this degree at Cuny College Of Staten Island in the most recent data year. History graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $51,911 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,648 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Cuny College Of Staten Island
Skidmore College placed #20 among the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Skidmore College awarded about 15 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Skidmore College earn around $34,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,274.
More information about a degree in history from Skidmore College
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #21 among the best history schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 97 history degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $34,333. Typical student debt for the program is $21,728.
Read more about the history program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Adelphi University came in at #22 for history this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Adelphi University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 history students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. Students borrow a median of $25,487 to complete this degree.
Get the full history details for Adelphi University
Suny College At Oneonta came in at #23 for history this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Oneonta. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 25 history students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $36,625. Suny College At Oneonta graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans.
See the full history program report for Suny College At Oneonta
Suny At Binghamton earned the #24 position for history this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 69 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $24,498 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,596 to complete this degree.
See the full history program report for Suny At Binghamton
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary placed #25 among the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary graduates 72% of students within six years. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary awarded about 15 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn around $48,472 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete this degree.
Read more about the history program at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Rest of the Top 50 History Schools
These schools also placed among the best for history this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 232 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).
