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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best History Schools in District of Columbia

3 Colleges in the United States
201 History Degrees Awarded
$51,626 Avg Early-Career Salary

History degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for history students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for History in District of Columbia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall history education in District of Columbia.

Top Schools in History

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 school for history. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 66 history students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $49,876 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,640. Get the full history details for Georgetown University

2

George Washington University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 history students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from George Washington University earn around $38,927 in the first couple years of their career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from George Washington University

3
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

Students looking for a strong history program will find one at American University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 history students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. History graduates of American University earn a median of $45,713 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the history program at American University

4

Catholic University Of America is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #4. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Catholic University Of America graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 history students who graduated with this degree at Catholic University Of America in the most recent data year. History graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $65,120 early in their careers. Catholic University Of America graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full history details for Catholic University Of America

5
Howard University crest
Howard University
Washington, DC

Howard University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Howard University awarded about 22 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $58,495. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at Howard University

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Notes and References

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 · 7 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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