Best Liberal Arts Colleges for History Degrees

Badge for BEST FOR HISTORY LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

The best history liberal arts colleges are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best history degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding history faculty.

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges History Programs

Sort by:
  1. Williams College
  2. Swarthmore College
  3. Amherst College
  4. Wesleyan University
  5. Pomona College
  6. Wellesley College
  7. United States Military Academy
  8. Bowdoin College
  9. Middlebury College
  10. Claremont McKenna College
  1. Wesleyan University
  2. Amherst College
  3. United States Military Academy
  4. Oberlin College
  5. Williams College
  6. Swarthmore College
  7. Smith College
  8. Wellesley College
  9. Bryn Mawr College
  10. Vassar College
  1. Reed College 44%
  2. Bryn Mawr College 39%
  3. Kenyon College 37%
  4. Oberlin College 34%
  5. Smith College 30%
  6. University of Richmond 29%
  7. Vassar College 20%
  8. Wesleyan University 19%
  9. Davidson College 18%
  10. Carleton College 18%
  1. Colorado College 9 to 1
  2. Reed College 9 to 1
  3. Kenyon College 9 to 1
  4. Colgate University 9 to 1
  5. Davidson College 9 to 1
  6. Oberlin College 9 to 1
  7. Barnard College 9 to 1
  8. Bowdoin College 8 to 1
  9. Carleton College 8 to 1
  10. Bryn Mawr College 8 to 1
  1. Kenyon College $63,310
  2. Vassar College $62,870
  3. Reed College $62,730
  4. Colorado College $62,070
  5. Wesleyan University $62,049
  6. Colgate University $61,966
  7. Haverford College $61,210
  8. Amherst College $61,150
  9. Wellesley College $60,752
  10. Oberlin College $60,240
  1. Claremont McKenna College $64,288
  2. Vassar College $61,940
  3. Colgate University $61,594
  4. Wesleyan University $61,449
  5. Williams College $59,728
  6. Smith College $55,830
  7. Bryn Mawr College $48,328
  8. Colorado College $34,300
  9. Oberlin College $29,692
  10. University of Richmond $25,620
  1. University of Richmond
  2. Bryn Mawr College
  3. Colorado College
  4. Carleton College
  5. Haverford College
  6. Smith College
  7. Reed College
  8. Kenyon College
  9. Oberlin College
  10. Vassar College
  1. Claremont McKenna College
  2. Davidson College
  3. Colorado College
  4. University of Richmond
  5. Kenyon College
  6. United States Air Force Academy
  7. Carleton College
  8. Middlebury College
  9. Colgate University
  10. Pomona College
  1. Pomona College 7%
  2. Swarthmore College 8%
  3. United States Naval Academy 8%
  4. Amherst College 9%
  5. Williams College 9%
  6. Bowdoin College 9%
  7. Claremont McKenna College 11%
  8. Barnard College 11%
  9. United States Military Academy 11%
  10. United States Air Force Academy 12%
  1. United States Air Force Academy 6 to 1
  2. Pomona College 6 to 1
  3. Williams College 6 to 1
  4. Amherst College 7 to 1
  5. Swarthmore College 7 to 1
  6. Smith College 7 to 1
  7. Wellesley College 7 to 1
  8. United States Military Academy 7 to 1
  9. Bowdoin College 8 to 1
  10. Carleton College 8 to 1
  1. Davidson College $55,200
  2. Swarthmore College $56,056
  3. Smith College $56,114
  4. Bryn Mawr College $56,320
  5. Pomona College $56,686
  6. Claremont McKenna College $58,111
  7. Bowdoin College $58,322
  8. University of Richmond $58,570
  9. Williams College $59,660
  10. Barnard College $59,687
  1. University of Richmond $25,620
  2. Oberlin College $29,692
  3. Colorado College $34,300
  4. Bryn Mawr College $48,328
  5. Smith College $55,830
  6. Williams College $59,728
  7. Wesleyan University $61,449
  8. Colgate University $61,594
  9. Vassar College $61,940
  10. Claremont McKenna College $64,288

Key Takeaways

  • As we study history, we learn how much our lives differ from those of our ancestors and yet how similar they are in their goals and values.
  • Attending a liberal arts college for your history degree program means that you will take an array of humanities and foundational courses, resulting in a well-rounded education.
  • History graduates go into research and heritage, education, and museum sector careers, as well as event marketing, advertising, public relations, and journalism.

A bachelor’s degree in history is an excellent starting point for a career in education, government consultation, journalism, and a host of other stimulating fields. As a history major, you’ll study philosophy, literature, language, and a number of other related fields.

Your history degree will incorporate an array of humanities as well as foundational courses in the history of Western and Eastern Civilizations, ancient history, and contemporary history. The best schools for history are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of history concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Degree popularity: History bachelor’s degrees are the 39th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics, ranking much higher for men at 24th. It’s most popular among white and Hispanic men, for whom it ranks 18th and 26th respectively, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About History Bachelor’s Degrees

A history major can provide you with the essential skills to succeed in a wide range of professional settings. As a history major, you will learn how to conduct research, cite your sources, and report on your findings. These are essential skills for finding and verifying information in life and work.

Moreover, the way we read and interpret history has a direct consequence on our everyday lives, from the way it informs behavior and policy to the way we preserve traditions and practice rituals.This means that those who tell history have enormous influence over the present day. Today, top influencers in history are exploring the connections between the environment and folk traditions [Link to https://academicinfluence.com/people/simon-schama]; the scope of human history through a macro-historical lens [Link to https://academicinfluence.com/people/yuval-noah-harari], what historian David Christian calls “Big History,” and much more.

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History feels like a particularly excellent major during these times of social and political upheaval. When dramatic events like wars, natural disasters, and pandemics alter our way of life, the changes can be shocking and difficult to navigate. But those with a deeper understanding of history recognize the patterns that have played out across generations. History majors often have a better sense of preparedness for such events, and a willingness to adapt as changes inevitably occur. During a time when our economic, labor market, and society are in major flux, those with a degree in history are in a unique position to understand the events around us, and make informed professional and personal choices based on this specialized insight.

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Once you’ve declared your major in history, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized history electives, there are a several common courses that most history majors will be required to take, including:

  • State, society and the individual in the non-western world
  • Rome to Renaissance: Introduction to the Middle Ages
  • Conflict and Identity in Modern Europe
  • Ancient Greek History
  • Intro to East Asian Civilization
  • Early Russian History
  • Political History of Contemporary Africa
  • Colonial Cities of the Americas

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History majors not only qualify for highly specialized roles in education, publishing and academia, but majoring in history will provide you with a number of valuable workplace skills. As such, your history major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:

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Reasons to Study History

History helps confirms our identity.

Data on history provides evidence of how families, groups, institutions, and entire countries are formed and evolve while maintaining cohesion. For some Americans, studying one’s family history is the most obvious use of history since it allows them to learn about their genealogy and gain a deeper understanding of how their family has interacted with wider historical changes.

History allows us to understand society better.

History allows you to understand society better, including with a world history and political science perspective. To understand what is happening now, we must examine factors that were present earlier.

Major developments can sometimes be explained by fairly recent history, but we need to look back further to identify the causes. In studying history, we can understand how things change, what factors cause change, and what aspects of an institution or society persist despite change.

History improves moral understanding.

A student of history can hone their moral sense by studying the stories of individuals and situations in the past by comparing the complexities they have faced in difficult circumstances. There is an inspiration to be found in real-life, historical accounts of people who have faced adversity, in as far back as ancient and medieval history.

History builds citizenship.

History can build your sense of citizenship. Due to our common knowledge of our history, we have a shared history and a communal identity. To understand our present as a community, we need to know how we came to be as a group. This awareness contributes to that sense of nationalism as well.

Required Skill Sets for Future Historians

Here are some skill sets that you need to brush up on if you want to pursue a career in history:

  • Teamwork
  • Communication Skills
  • Problem-Solving Skills
  • Data Analyzing Skills
  • Has Good Initiative
  • Special Attention to Details

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in history.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for History Degrees

  1. #1

    Williams College

    Williamstown , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Williams College

    Cost of Degree: $61,770
    Expenses: $19,230
    Starting Salary: $56,957
    Salary after 4 years: $84,971
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Williams College History Major

    • BA History

    Source

  2. #2

    Swarthmore College

    Swarthmore , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1467/32

    Career Outlook for History degree at Swarthmore College

    Cost of Degree: $59,328
    Expenses: $20,686
    Starting Salary: $44,399
    Salary after 4 years: $66,236
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Swarthmore College History Majors

    • History Major and Minor
    • Teacher certification

    Source

  3. #3

    Amherst College

    Amherst , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

    Career Outlook for History degree at Amherst College

    Cost of Degree: $64,100
    Expenses: $19,550
    Starting Salary: $52,835
    Salary after 4 years: $78,820
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Amherst College History Majors

    • Concentration: Geographic
    • Concentration: Thematic

    Source

  4. #4

    Wesleyan University

    Middletown , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Wesleyan University

    Cost of Degree: $64,022
    Expenses: $20,850
    Starting Salary: $40,213
    Salary after 4 years: $59,991
    Cost Recoup Time: 20 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Wesleyan University History Major

    • BA in History
    • History Minor

    Source

  5. #5

    Pomona College

    Claremont , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Pomona College

    Cost of Degree: $59,238
    Expenses: $21,958
    Starting Salary: $49,029
    Salary after 4 years: $73,143
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Pomona College History Major

    • BA in History

    Source

  6. #6

    Wellesley College

    Wellesley , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    16%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    Career Outlook for History degree at Wellesley College

    Cost of Degree: $61,920
    Expenses: $21,130
    Starting Salary: $45,541
    Salary after 4 years: $67,939
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Wellesley College History Majors

    • History Major or Minor
    • Teacher certification

    Source

  7. Other Rankings

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1325/30

    United States Military Academy History Majors

    • American History
    • International History
    • Interdisciplinary Courses
    • Military History

    Source

  8. #8

    Bowdoin College

    Brunswick , ME
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Bowdoin College

    Cost of Degree: $61,528
    Expenses: $18,862
    Starting Salary: $52,835
    Salary after 4 years: $78,820
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Bowdoin College History Major

    • History Major or Minor

    Source

  9. #9

    Middlebury College

    Middlebury , VT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1430/32

    Career Outlook for History degree at Middlebury College

    Cost of Degree: $62,460
    Expenses: $19,800
    Starting Salary: $45,604
    Salary after 4 years: $68,033
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Middlebury College History Majors

    • BA in History
    • History of Science, Medicine, and Technology Track

    Source

  10. #10

    Claremont McKenna College

    Claremont , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for History degree at Claremont McKenna College

    Cost of Degree: $60,715
    Expenses: $21,412
    Starting Salary: $59,114
    Salary after 4 years: $88,188
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Claremont McKenna College History Major

    • BA in History

    Source

  11. Other Rankings

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1340/30

    United States Naval Academy History Majors

    • American history
    • European history
    • Regional history
    • Naval and military history
    • Thematic history

    Source

  12. #12

    Colgate University

    Hamilton , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    17%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1385/31

    Career Outlook for History degree at Colgate University

    Cost of Degree: $64,290
    Expenses: $19,360
    Starting Salary: $51,439
    Salary after 4 years: $76,739
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Colgate University History Majors

    • Black History
    • Capitalism, Commodities, and Class
    • Cultural History
    • Empires and Colonialism
    • Environmental History
    • Gender and Sexuality
    • Indigenous History
    • Intellectual History
    • Migration and Diaspora
    • Race and Racism
    • Religion and Society
    • Science, Technology, and Medicine
    • Social Movements and Human Rights
    • War and Violence

    Source

  13. #13

    Davidson College

    Davidson , NC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    18%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1380/31

    Career Outlook for History degree at Davidson College

    Cost of Degree: $57,090
    Expenses: $18,525
    Starting Salary: $45,097
    Salary after 4 years: $67,276
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Davidson College History Major

    • BA in History
    • History Minor

    Source

  14. #14

    Barnard College

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1434/32

    Career Outlook for History degree at Barnard College

    Cost of Degree: $62,525
    Expenses: $21,884
    Starting Salary: $44,209
    Salary after 4 years: $65,952
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Barnard College History Majors

    • Urban History
    • Intellectual History
    • Rights, Law, and the State
    • Empires and Colonialism
    • Race and Ethnicity
    • Gender, Sexuality, and the Family
    • Markets, Money, and Labor
    • Science, Technology, and the Environment
    • The Atlantic World
    • Religion, Belief, and Values
    • Premodern History
    • War and Revolution
    • International and Global History

    Source

  15. #16

    Vassar College

    Poughkeepsie , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/33

    Career Outlook for History degree at Vassar College

    Cost of Degree: $64,800
    Expenses: $18,810
    Starting Salary: $39,008
    Salary after 4 years: $58,193
    Cost Recoup Time: 20 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Vassar College History Major

    • BA in History

    Source

  16. #17

    Oberlin College

    Oberlin , OH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    34%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1315/30

    Career Outlook for History degree at Oberlin College

    Cost of Degree: $62,024
    Expenses: $22,206
    Starting Salary: $28,859
    Salary after 4 years: $43,053
    Cost Recoup Time: 23 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Oberlin College History Major

    • History Major and Minor

    Source

  17. #18

    Kenyon College

    Gambier , OH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    37%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1370/31

    Career Outlook for History degree at Kenyon College

    Cost of Degree: $66,490
    Expenses: $17,310
    Starting Salary: $34,568
    Salary after 4 years: $51,569
    Cost Recoup Time: 21 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Kenyon College History Major

    • History Major and Minor

    Source

  18. #19

    Reed College

    Portland , OR
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    44%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Reed College

    Cost of Degree: $64,760
    Expenses: $18,550
    Starting Salary: $33,426
    Salary after 4 years: $49,866
    Cost Recoup Time: 21 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Reed College History Major

    • BA in History

    Source

  19. #20

    Smith College

    Northampton , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    30%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Smith College

    Cost of Degree: $58,768
    Expenses: $23,366
    Starting Salary: $32,411
    Salary after 4 years: $48,352
    Cost Recoup Time: 22 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Smith College History Majors

    • Antiquity
    • Islamic Middle East
    • East Asia
    • Europe 300-1650
    • Europe 1650 to Present
    • Africa
    • Latin America
    • United States
    • Women’s History
    • Comparative Colonialism

    Source

  20. #21

    Haverford College

    Haverford , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    18%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/33

    Career Outlook for History degree at Haverford College

    Cost of Degree: $63,348
    Expenses: $21,120
    Starting Salary: $47,634
    Salary after 4 years: $71,061
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Haverford College History Major

    • BA in History

    Source

  21. #22

    Carleton College

    Northfield , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    18%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1425/32

    Career Outlook for History degree at Carleton College

    Cost of Degree: $62,634
    Expenses: $18,716
    Starting Salary: $43,067
    Salary after 4 years: $64,249
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Carleton College History Majors

    • Bachelor’s in History
    • Thematic Major option

    Source

  22. #23

    Colorado College

    Colorado Springs , CO
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    86%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Colorado College

    Cost of Degree: $65,028
    Expenses: $18,200
    Starting Salary: $31,650
    Salary after 4 years: $47,217
    Cost Recoup Time: 22 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Colorado College History Majors

    • History
    • History-Philosophy
    • History-Political Science
    • Classics-History-Politics

    Source

  23. #24

    Bryn Mawr College

    Bryn Mawr , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    39%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for History degree at Bryn Mawr College

    Cost of Degree: $59,330
    Expenses: $20,050
    Starting Salary: $38,690
    Salary after 4 years: $57,720
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Bryn Mawr College History Major

    • BA in History
    • History Minor

    Source

  24. #25

    University of Richmond

    University of Richmond , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    29%

    Graduation

    89%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1370/31

    Career Outlook for History degree at University of Richmond

    Cost of Degree: $60,330
    Expenses: $17,000
    Starting Salary: $50,044
    Salary after 4 years: $74,657
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Richmond History Major

    • BA in History
    • History Minor

    Source

Go to all Liberal Arts Colleges for History programs

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