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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best History Schools in Massachusetts

21 Colleges in the United States
1,019 History Degrees Awarded
$41,864 Avg Early-Career Salary

History degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their history programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 53 schools to find the best for history students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for History in Massachusetts

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.

Top Schools in History

1
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 school for history. 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 224 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. See the full history program report for Harvard University

2
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

A rank of #2 makes Tufts University one of the top schools for history. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 history degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $41,447 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Read more about the history program at Tufts University

3
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College came in at #3 on our 2026 list 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 64 history degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $46,483. Boston College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Read more about the history program at Boston College

4
Amherst College crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA

Amherst College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #4. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 14 history students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. History graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $56,444 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Amherst College

5
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Williams College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in history, ranking #5. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 history students who graduated with this degree at Williams College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $53,652 in their early career. Williams College graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Williams College

6

College Of The Holy Cross placed #6 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. College Of The Holy Cross awarded about 46 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $42,345 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at College Of The Holy Cross

7

Brandeis University landed the #7 spot for history this year. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Brandeis University awarded about 36 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $33,903 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in history from Brandeis University

8
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University came in at #8 for history this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 51 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. See the full history program report for Boston University

9
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Smith College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Northampton. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. About 19 history degrees were awarded at Smith College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $26,131. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Read more about the history program at Smith College

10

University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #10 for history this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 91 history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $26,805 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst

11

Northeastern University came in at #11 for history this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Northeastern University awarded about 28 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $74,800 in their early career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Get the full history details for Northeastern University

12
Simmons College crest
Simmons College
Boston, MA

Simmons College earned the #12 position for history this year. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 16 history degrees were awarded at Simmons College in the most recent year. History graduates of Simmons College earn a median of $41,619 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at Simmons College

13
Clark University crest
Clark University
Worcester, MA

Clark University came in at #13 for history this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clark University awarded about 29 history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $43,257 in their early career. Clark University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Clark University

14

University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #14 for history this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 22 history degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $30,581 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full history program report for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth

15

Suffolk University placed #15 among the best history schools. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Suffolk University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 history students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $57,261 in their early career. Suffolk University graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. Get the full history details for Suffolk University

16

University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #16 spot for history this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Lowell awarded about 27 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $27,586. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from University Of Massachusetts Lowell

17
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, MA

Springfield College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 19 history students who graduated with this degree at Springfield College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the history program make about $49,880 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,151 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for Springfield College

18

Bridgewater State University landed the #18 spot for history this year. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Bridgewater State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Bridgewater State University awarded about 54 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Bridgewater State University earn around $34,215 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Bridgewater State University

19

Salem State University landed the #19 spot for history this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Salem State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 history students who graduated with this degree at Salem State University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $29,307 early in their careers. Salem State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in history from Salem State University

20
Merrimack College crest
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA

Merrimack College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best history schools. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. About 70% of students finish within six years. Merrimack College awarded about 10 history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their history degree from Merrimack College earn around $50,506 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Merrimack College

21
Gordon College crest
Gordon College
Wenham, MA

Gordon College earned the #21 position for history this year. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 11 history degrees were awarded at Gordon College in the most recent year. Graduates of the history program make about $37,097 in their early career. Gordon College graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. See the full history program report for Gordon College

22

Worcester State University placed #22 among the best history schools. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Worcester State University awarded about 27 history degrees in the most recent data year. History graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $38,028 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,610 to complete this degree. See the full history program report for Worcester State University

23

University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #23 for history this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. About 49% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 47 history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $46,908. Students borrow a median of $24,862 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in history from University Of Massachusetts Boston

24

Framingham State University landed the #24 spot for history this year. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 16 history students who graduated with this degree at Framingham State University in the most recent data year. History graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $34,836 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full history details for Framingham State University

25

Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #25 among the best history schools. Set in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 10 history degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete this degree. Read more about the history program at Wheaton College Massachusetts

Rest of the Top 28 History Schools

These schools also placed among the best for history this year:

26
Assumption College crest
Assumption College
Worcester, MA
27
Mount Holyoke College crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
28

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Notes and References

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 · 53 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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