by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Medieval & Renaissance Studies covers Medieval And Renaissance Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The Medieval And/or Renaissance Periods In European And Circum-Mediterranean History From The Perspective Of Various Disciplines In The Humanities And Social Sciences, Including History And Archeology, As Well As Studies Of Period Art And Music. Examples: [Medieval Studies], [Renaissance Studies]. Read on to learn the key facts every medieval & renaissance studies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medieval & renaissance studies programs.
Across the country, medieval & renaissance studies is a popular field of study, with 122 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medieval & Renaissance Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 37 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medieval & renaissance studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medieval & renaissance studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Medieval & Renaissance Studies develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medieval & renaissance studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a medieval & renaissance studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a medieval & renaissance studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medieval & renaissance studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 45 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 69 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
People currently working in careers related to medieval & renaissance studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 66.1% |
| Master’s degree | 32.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medieval & renaissance studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in medieval & renaissance studies prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to medieval & renaissance studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medieval & renaissance studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Historians | 66,368 | -1.5% |
Salaries for medieval & renaissance studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medieval & renaissance studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
With 37 different medieval & renaissance studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medieval & renaissance studies school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
