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Best Colleges with History Degrees in the U.S.
So if you are looking at this degree, you’ve probably heard the famous and often annoying question: ‘What are you going to do with a history degree?’ Well, you can either smack that person over the head with your renaissance history textbook, or you can simply explain to them that we rely on history to make better decisions for the future. Not to mention there are a variety of career paths with a history degree. Professionals who majored in history can work as lawyers, government officials, journalists, teachers, writers, and even businessmen and women. That last one is real; businesses are realizing that the close reading and analytical skills are good for their companies, especially in the information age. Since there is a lot to cover in history many schools allow students to concentrate in particular eras, regions, or historical movements.
The Best History Colleges of 2019
| Rank | School Name | Location | Description | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
University of California-Los Angeles offers 5 History Degree programs. It's a large public university in a large city. In 2015, 363 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 323 Bachelor's degrees, 21 Doctoral degrees, 19 Master's degrees. | Based on 88 Reviews |
Read more: University of California-Los Angeles Reviews
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| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY |
Columbia University in the City of New York offers 5 History Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large city. In 2015, 196 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 108 Bachelor's degrees, 46 Master's degrees, 22 Certificates degrees, and 20 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 20 Reviews | ||
| 3 | Yale University | New Haven, CT |
Yale University offers 5 History Degree programs. It's a large private university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 175 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 98 Bachelor's degrees, 27 Master's degrees, 26 Doctoral degrees, and 24 Certificates degrees. | Based on 12 Reviews |
Read more: Yale University Reviews
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| 4 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA |
Harvard University offers 4 History Degree programs. It's a large private university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 90 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 50 Bachelor's degrees, 29 Master's degrees, and 11 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 44 Reviews |
Read more: Harvard University Reviews
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| 5 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA |
University of Pennsylvania offers 6 History Degree programs. It's a large private university in a large city. In 2015, 139 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 105 Bachelor's degrees, 19 Master's degrees, and 15 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 56 Reviews |
Read more: University of Pennsylvania Reviews
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| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
University of California-Berkeley offers 4 History Degree programs. It's a large public university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 195 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 152 Bachelor's degrees, 27 Doctoral degrees, and 16 Master's degrees. | Based on 140 Reviews |
Read more: University of California-Berkeley Reviews
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| 7 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA |
University of Virginia-Main Campus offers 4 History Degree programs. It's a large public university in a small suburb. In 2015, 212 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 184 Bachelor's degrees, 15 Doctoral degrees, and 13 Master's degrees. | Based on 60 Reviews |
Read more: University of Virginia-Main Campus Reviews
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| 8 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers 4 History Degree programs. It's a large public university in a small city. In 2015, 229 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 210 Bachelor's degrees, 12 Doctoral degrees, and 7 Master's degrees. | Based on 72 Reviews | ||
| 9 | Princeton University | Princeton, NJ |
Princeton University offers 3 History Degree programs. It's a medium sized private university in a large suburb. In 2015, 108 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 76 Bachelor's degrees, 17 Master's degrees, and 15 Doctoral degrees. | Based on 28 Reviews |
Read more: Princeton University Reviews
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| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers 4 History Degree programs. It's a large public university in a mid sized city. In 2015, 205 students graduated in the study area of History with students earning 184 Bachelor's degrees, 12 Doctoral degrees, and 9 Master's degrees. | Based on 128 Reviews |
Read more: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Reviews
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List of History Schools in the U.S.
| School Logo | School Name | Average tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA |
3/5
|
12 : 1 | 41,908 |
|
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY |
5/5
|
7 : 1 | 28,086 |
|
Yale University New Haven, CT |
5/5
|
5 : 1 | 12,385 |
|
Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
5/5
|
14 : 1 | 29,652 |
|
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
5/5
|
12 : 1 | 24,876 |
|
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA |
3/5
|
21 : 1 | 38,189 |
|
|
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA |
4/5
|
11 : 1 | 23,883 |
|
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC |
3/5
|
17 : 1 | 29,084 |
|
Princeton University Princeton, NJ |
5/5
|
9 : 1 | 8,138 |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI |
3/5
|
7 : 1 | 43,651 |
|
University of Chicago Chicago, IL |
5/5
|
7 : 1 | 15,391 |
|
Brown University Providence, RI |
5/5
|
12 : 1 | 9,458 |
|
Stanford University Stanford, CA |
5/5
|
6 : 1 | 16,980 |
|
Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN |
5/5
|
4 : 1 | 12,567 |
|
Duke University Durham, NC |
5/5
|
5 : 1 | 15,984 |
|
Northwestern University Evanston, IL |
5/5
|
10 : 1 | 21,655 |
|
New York University New York, NY |
5/5
|
8 : 1 | 50,027 |
|
Dartmouth College Hanover, NH |
5/5
|
8 : 1 | 6,350 |
|
University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN |
5/5
|
11 : 1 | 12,292 |
|
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX |
3/5
|
18 : 1 | 50,950 |
|
College of William and Mary Williamsburg, VA |
4/5
|
12 : 1 | 8,484 |
|
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI |
3/5
|
12 : 1 | 42,716 |
|
Williams College Williamstown, MA |
5/5
|
7 : 1 | 2,171 |
|
Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA |
5/5
|
15 : 1 | 14,354 |
|
Georgetown University Washington, DC |
5/5
|
13 : 1 | 18,459 |
Find Local Colleges Offering History Degrees
Getting a History Degree Online
Schools offering online History degrees
Online History degrees are available at a variety of different schools with as many as 394 degrees earned at the most popular school. Read more below about all schools that have offered online History degrees. If you are interested learning more about getting a degree online, check out our page dedicated to online degree information.
| School Name | Certificate | Associate's | Bachelor's | Master's | Doctoral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Public University System | 18 | 26 | 110 | 240 | 0 |
| University of Central Florida | 0 | 0 | 153 | 0 | 0 |
| University of Maryland-University College | 0 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | 0 | 0 | 76 | 10 | 0 |
| Columbia College | 0 | 0 | 71 | 0 | 0 |
- 1 Certificates
- 18 Associate's
- 42 Bachelor's
- 21 Master's
What degrees do people get in History?
| Degree Level | Program Length | Colleges | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's | 2-year Length | 189 Colleges | 1,265 Graduates |
| Bachelor's | 4-year Length | 1,286 Colleges | 30,429 Graduates |
| Certificates | < 1 year Length | 34 Colleges | 112 Graduates |
| Doctoral | 1-2 year Length | 146 Colleges | 928 Graduates |
| Master's | 1+ years Length | 379 Colleges | 3,240 Graduates |
History Degree Overview
When going for a History degree, know that there are many options for a traditional degree as well as higher education choices. The most standard path for those earning a degree in History can presume a standard two to four years to earn a degree. The standard History degree earned was a bachelor's degree and it also has the widest range of school possibilities as well. The second most popular History degree that people receive is a master's degree which goes to show a focus on higher learning. This shows that the degree requires dedication to schooling and you may want to seek more than a four year time commitment. Although a certificate is offered at some schools, getting a certificate is not very common. Keeping in mind what you hope to achieve by earning a degree in History, look to choose a degree at a school that can meet your flexibility and schedule needs.
Average cost of college for a History degree
Average Tuition and Fees for a 2 year Degree
| Average Tuition and Fees | School Control | Student Residence |
|---|---|---|
| $2,327 | Public | In-State |
| $12,840 | Private | In-State |
| $6,461 | Public | Out-of-State |
| $12,840 | Private | Out-of-State |
Average Tuition and Fees for a 4 year Degree
| Average Tuition and Fees | School Control | Student Residence |
|---|---|---|
| $8,448 | Public | In-State |
| $30,452 | Private | In-State |
| $19,901 | Public | Out-of-State |
| $30,452 | Private | Out-of-State |