2026 Best Art History Schools in Virginia

Art 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 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for art history students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Art History Schools in Virginia

Best Schools for Art History in Virginia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall art history education in Virginia.

Top Schools in Art History

1

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

16 Art History Degrees Awarded

$63,131 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked George Mason University the best school in the country for a degree in art history. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 16 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $63,131. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree. Get the full art history details for George Mason University

2

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

18 Art History Degrees Awarded

$20,934 Median Starting Salary

Virginia Commonwealth University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 18 art history degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art history degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $20,934 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $23,374 in student loans. See the full art history program report for Virginia Commonwealth University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.