Best Colleges and Universities for History Degrees

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The best history degree programs 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.

Key Takeaways

  • History programs can lead to a career as a politician, librarian, archivist, or museum curator.
  • Grad school may not be in the plans for all history majors, but pursuing a master’s or a doctorate in the best colleges for history is a popular path for those seeking professional advancement.
  • Strong communication and writing skills in government, administration, and public service are expected of history majors, which a robust history program can offer!

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.

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Despite focusing on the past, a history degree builds skills that are relevant to today’s workforce. Tackling topics like general history and global affairs, this degree which requires critical reading and writing assignments can help to develop research and analytical skills, construct persuasive arguments, and draw conclusions based on qualitative and quantitative evidence.

To understand how previous generations lived and solved their problems, history scholars study arts history as well as facts and records left by past generations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 4% growth in opportunities for historians are predicted.

Besides looking at old information and cultures, a history degree program prepares students for jobs in museums and heritage institutions, as well as teaching and accounting.

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.

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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The Best Colleges and Universities for History Degrees

Best History Major Research Universities

  1. Harvard University
  2. Yale University
  3. Columbia University
  4. Stanford University
  5. Princeton University

Go to The Best History Research Universities

Best History Major Liberal Arts Colleges

  1. Williams College
  2. Swarthmore College
  3. Amherst College
  4. Wesleyan University
  5. Pomona College

Go to The Best History Liberal Arts Colleges

Best History Major Online Colleges

  1. University of Arizona
  2. University of Memphis
  3. University of Central Florida
  4. University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  5. University of Idaho

Go to The Best History Online Colleges

Career Outlook for Students with History Degree

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History

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,771
  • Avg. Expenses*: $16,613
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $29,610
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $42,686
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 12 years
  • Job Growth: 2.26%
  • Number of Jobs: 2,326,900
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers4.87%$122,066
Managers, All Other3.34%$106,040
History Teachers, Postsecondary1.31%$79,776
Historians2.86%$68,010
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education1.03%$61,619

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$52,858$86,254$132,043

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Delaware2% higher than average$117,931
#3 Minnesota4% higher than average$95,705
#4 Illinois7% higher than average$92,996
#5 Massachusetts24% higher than average$119,975
#6 Texas10% higher than average$86,535

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers$122,066
Managers, All Other$106,040
History Teachers, Postsecondary$79,776

The Best History Schools in Your State

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