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Best History Programs 2026

Best history programs ranked by graduate earnings. See which schools give history majors the strongest career outcomes.

13 programs ranked

$32,287 avg salary

10 public schools

View as table

Rank	Program	School	State	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Value Score	Break-Even
1	History	Harvard University	MA	$50,411	$19,066/yr	86/100	4 yr
2	History	University of Chicago	IL	$40,346	$18,967/yr	76/100	7.9 yr
3	History	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	VA	$34,622	$23,790/yr	40/100	22.3 yr
4	History	Middlebury College	VT	$34,318	$25,934/yr	38/100	25.2 yr
5	History	The University of Texas at Austin	TX	$33,263	$19,678/yr	46/100	26.4 yr
6	History	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	MI	$31,870	$13,138/yr	55/100	31.9 yr
7	History	University of California-Berkeley	CA	$31,678	$13,481/yr	55/100	35 yr
8	History	University of Wisconsin-Madison	WI	$28,843	$16,928/yr	46/100	N/A
9	History	University of Georgia	GA	$28,733	$13,816/yr	53/100	N/A
10	History	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	NC	$28,703	$12,983/yr	54/100	N/A
11	History	University of Florida	FL	$26,805	$6,351/yr	54/100	N/A
12	History	Ohio State University-Main Campus	OH	$26,168	$18,292/yr	38/100	N/A
13	History	Wayne State University	MI	$23,971	$14,773/yr	38/100	N/A

History

86/100

Harvard University · Cambridge, MA

$50,411 median salary$19,066/yr net cost4 yr break-even+68% vs. HS diploma

History

76/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$40,346 median salary$18,967/yr net cost7.9 yr break-even+34% vs. HS diploma

History

40/100Public

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA

$34,622 median salary$23,790/yr net cost22.3 yr break-even+15% vs. HS diploma

History

38/100

Middlebury College · Middlebury, VT

$34,318 median salary$25,934/yr net cost25.2 yr break-even+14% vs. HS diploma

History

46/100Public

The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX

$33,263 median salary$19,678/yr net cost26.4 yr break-even+11% vs. HS diploma

History

55/100Public

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$31,870 median salary$13,138/yr net cost31.9 yr break-even+6% vs. HS diploma

History

55/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$31,678 median salary$13,481/yr net cost35 yr break-even+6% vs. HS diploma

History

46/100Public

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI

$28,843 median salary$16,928/yr net cost+-4% vs. HS diploma

History

53/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$28,733 median salary$13,816/yr net cost+-4% vs. HS diploma

History

54/100Public

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC

$28,703 median salary$12,983/yr net cost+-4% vs. HS diploma

History

54/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$26,805 median salary$6,351/yr net cost+-11% vs. HS diploma

History

38/100Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH

$26,168 median salary$18,292/yr net cost+-13% vs. HS diploma

History

38/100Public

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$23,971 median salary$14,773/yr net cost+-20% vs. HS diploma

Compare Schools Side by Side

See how different history programs stack up on cost, salary, and graduation rates.

Compare Schools Overall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.