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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.

17 programs ranked

$32,903 avg salary

11 public schools

View as table

Rank	Program	School	State	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Value Score	Break-Even
1	History	Georgetown University	DC	$46,691	$40,815/yr	53/100	10.1 yr
2	History	Boston College	MA	$45,345	$41,704/yr	48/100	11.3 yr
3	History	George Washington University	DC	$42,168	$37,454/yr	45/100	12.9 yr
4	History	University of Chicago	IL	$40,346	$18,967/yr	76/100	7.9 yr
5	History	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	IL	$39,482	$15,201/yr	75/100	7.2 yr
6	History	Emory University	GA	$37,286	$23,911/yr	54/100	14 yr
7	History	Iowa State University	IA	$32,633	$18,165/yr	47/100	30.8 yr
8	History	University of California-Berkeley	CA	$31,678	$13,481/yr	55/100	35 yr
9	History	The University of Alabama	AL	$30,190	$22,150/yr	34/100	509.9 yr
10	History	University of Southern California	CA	$29,963	$31,927/yr	25/100	N/A
11	History	University of Georgia	GA	$28,733	$13,816/yr	53/100	N/A
12	History	Florida State University	FL	$27,120	$10,997/yr	52/100	N/A
13	History	University of Florida	FL	$26,805	$6,351/yr	54/100	N/A
14	History	University of California-Santa Barbara	CA	$26,516	$13,825/yr	51/100	N/A
15	History	University of California-Los Angeles	CA	$25,829	$12,548/yr	54/100	N/A
16	History	Indiana University-Bloomington	IN	$24,489	$15,342/yr	41/100	N/A
17	History	University of Arizona	AZ	$24,071	$15,960/yr	37/100	N/A

History

53/100

Georgetown University · Washington, DC

$46,691 median salary$40,815/yr net cost10.1 yr break-even+56% vs. HS diploma

History

48/100

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

$45,345 median salary$41,704/yr net cost11.3 yr break-even+51% vs. HS diploma

History

45/100

George Washington University · Washington, DC

$42,168 median salary$37,454/yr net cost12.9 yr break-even+41% 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

75/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$39,482 median salary$15,201/yr net cost7.2 yr break-even+32% vs. HS diploma

History

54/100

Emory University · Atlanta, GA

$37,286 median salary$23,911/yr net cost14 yr break-even+24% vs. HS diploma

History

47/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$32,633 median salary$18,165/yr net cost30.8 yr break-even+9% 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

34/100Public

The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL

$30,190 median salary$22,150/yr net cost509.9 yr break-even+1% vs. HS diploma

History

25/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$29,963 median salary$31,927/yr net cost+0% 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

52/100Public

Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL

$27,120 median salary$10,997/yr net cost+-10% 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

51/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$26,516 median salary$13,825/yr net cost+-12% vs. HS diploma

History

54/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$25,829 median salary$12,548/yr net cost+-14% vs. HS diploma

History

41/100Public

Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN

$24,489 median salary$15,342/yr net cost+-18% vs. HS diploma

History

37/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$24,071 median salary$15,960/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.