Art History degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their art history programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 438 schools to find the best for art history students.
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget
Choosing a Great Art History School
The art history program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Art History Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Art History School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Art History Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Wellesley College, our #1 school for art history. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. Wellesley College awarded about 12 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from Wellesley College earn around $48,902 in the first couple years of their career. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans.
Read more about the art history program at Wellesley College
Students looking for a strong art history program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 art history students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
See the full art history program report for Stanford University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for art history. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 23 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
Read more about the art history program at University Of Chicago
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in art history, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Art History graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,367 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,319 to complete this degree.
Get the full art history details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #5 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for art history. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 art history students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the art history program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Boston College earned the #6 position for art history this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 art history students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Art History graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
See the full art history program report for Boston College
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #7 position for art history this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 36 art history students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $45,488 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $16,978 in student loans.
Read more about the art history program at University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #8 spot for art history this year. 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 16 art history degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $32,031. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full art history details for University Of Maryland College Park
Harvard University earned the #9 position for art history this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 art history students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $95,207 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full art history program report for Harvard University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best art history schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 22 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $25,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,667.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Southern California ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best art history schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 21 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $50,161. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $21,125 in student loans.
Read more about the art history program at University Of Southern California
Princeton University earned the #12 position for art history this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Princeton University awarded about 28 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
Get the full art history details for Princeton University
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #13 for art history this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 44 art history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $30,719 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $19,316 in student loans.
Get the full art history details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Georgia placed #14 among the best art history schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 20 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $26,323 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,947 to complete this degree.
See the full art history program report for University Of Georgia
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #15 position for art history this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 12 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $24,005. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,600 in student loans.
Get the full art history details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #16 position for art history this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 60 art history degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the art history program make about $21,220 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
See the full art history program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Brown University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best art history schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 art history students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $23,180 in their early career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $17,300 in student loans.
See the full art history program report for Brown University
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #18 spot for art history this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 18 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $33,265 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full art history details for Indiana University Bloomington
Williams College came in at #19 for art history this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Williamstown. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Williams College awarded about 14 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete this degree.
Read more about the art history program at Williams College
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #20 position for art history this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 28 art history degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Art History graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $30,577 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full art history details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #21 for art history this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 49 art history degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Art History graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $25,927 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,057.
More information about a degree in art history from The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of California Davis ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best art history schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 17 art history degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their art history degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,741 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,061 in student loans.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of California Davis
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #23 among the best art history schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 art history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $26,709 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,477.
See the full art history program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Denver landed the #24 spot for art history this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 art history students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art history program make about $36,943 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in art history from University Of Denver
Florida State University landed the #25 spot for art history this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 art history degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the art history program make about $28,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,222 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in art history from Florida State University
Rest of the Top 50 Art History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s art history ranking:
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 · 438 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).
