Best Online Bachelor’s of History Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN HISTORY

By Dr. James Barham and Dr. James Barham

Published: Jul 2, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online bachelor’s in history degree programs for students wanting to work for historical societies, schools, government agencies, libraries, and nonprofit organizations. They can also use their degree to apply for law school or to pursue a master’s degree.

Top 10 Online Bachelor's in History Degree Programs

University of Arizona
University of Memphis
University of Central Florida
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Idaho
Florida International University
Providence College
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Troy University
Sam Houston State University

University of Arizona
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Florida International University
University of Central Florida
University of Memphis
University of Idaho
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Liberty University
Southeast Missouri State University
Providence College

Liberty University 99%
Southern New Hampshire University 96%
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 96%
University of North Alabama 96%
Troy University 95%
University of Memphis 95%
Arkansas Tech University 94%
West Texas A&M University 92%
Norfolk State University 89%
University of Tennessee at Martin 88%

University of Central Florida 29 to 1
Florida International University 24 to 1
Southern New Hampshire University 22 to 1
Regent University 21 to 1
Southeast Missouri State University 20 to 1
Sam Houston State University 20 to 1
Arkansas Tech University 18 to 1
University of North Alabama 18 to 1
Liberty University 18 to 1
Norfolk State University 18 to 1

Providence College $57,928
Liberty University $22,511
Regent University $19,680
Southern New Hampshire University $15,380
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth $14,179
University of Missouri–St. Louis $12,528
University of Arizona $11,210
Northern Kentucky University $10,208
University of North Alabama $10,200
Troy University $9,312

Southern New Hampshire University $18,900
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth $16,390
Regent University $16,028
University of Missouri–St. Louis $13,154
University of Arizona $12,348
University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,535
Providence College $11,070
Northern Kentucky University $9,900
University of Memphis $9,378
University of Tennessee at Martin $9,278

Arkansas Tech University
Regent University
University of Missouri–St. Louis
Westfield State University
Southeast Missouri State University
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
West Texas A&M University
Southern New Hampshire University
Norfolk State University

Arkansas Tech University
West Texas A&M University
Westfield State University
University of North Alabama
University of Missouri–St. Louis
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Tennessee at Martin
Norfolk State University
Regent University
Idaho State University

Regent University 32%
University of Central Florida 41%
University of Missouri–St. Louis 51%
Providence College 53%
Florida International University 64%
University of Idaho 74%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 79%
Westfield State University 82%
Sam Houston State University 85%
University of Nebraska at Kearney 86%

University of Alaska Fairbanks 11 to 1
Providence College 11 to 1
University of Missouri–St. Louis 13 to 1
University of Nebraska at Kearney 13 to 1
Idaho State University 13 to 1
Westfield State University 14 to 1
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 15 to 1
University of Tennessee at Martin 15 to 1
University of Idaho 16 to 1
Troy University 16 to 1

Westfield State University $970
University of Central Florida $4,478
Florida International University $4,721
Norfolk State University $5,752
Arkansas Tech University $5,820
Sam Houston State University $5,856
Idaho State University $5,928
University of Idaho $6,182
University of Nebraska at Kearney $6,270
West Texas A&M University $6,372

Westfield State University $1,775
West Texas A&M University $5,088
Arkansas Tech University $5,481
Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
Southeast Missouri State University $6,205
University of Nebraska at Kearney $6,216
University of North Alabama $6,600
University of Central Florida $6,916
University of Idaho $7,754

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About History Degrees

A bachelor’s degree in history gives students a comprehensive education of the past and a contextual understanding of the present.

Students can study either online or on campus and can choose from various concentrations, such as African history, Asian history, Eastern European history, European history, Latin American history, and United States history.

On average, an undergraduate degree in history requires 120 credits, which typically takes about four to five years to complete.

While some students use their degree to apply for law school or to pursue a master’s degree, many history graduates go on to work for historical societies, schools, government agencies, libraries, and nonprofit organizations.

Learn more about how to major in history.

How do we determine the best online history bachelor's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in History Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with History Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

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

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers	4.87%	$122,066
Managers, All Other	3.34%	$106,040
History Teachers, Postsecondary	1.31%	$79,776
Historians	2.86%	$68,010
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	1.03%	$61,619
Curators	10.79%	$59,249
Archivists	8.51%	$57,582
Museum Technicians and Conservators	10.42%	$46,300

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$52,858	$86,254	$132,043

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 Delaware	2% higher than average	$117,931
#3 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$95,705
#4 Illinois	7% higher than average	$92,996
#5 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$119,975
#6 Texas	10% higher than average	$86,535
#7 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$84,749
#8 Virginia	5% higher than average	$91,041
#9 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$107,808
#10 Michigan	15% higher than average	$80,923
#11 Arizona	5% higher than average	$89,530
#12 California	26% higher than average	$118,032
#13 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$105,251
#14 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$110,525
#15 Colorado	3% higher than average	$96,123
#16 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$82,582
#17 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$88,300
#18 Ohio	14% higher than average	$79,752
#19 Georgia	13% higher than average	$80,311
#20 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$110,123
#21 Kansas	9% higher than average	$83,651
#22 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$78,389
#23 Iowa	9% higher than average	$81,575
#24 Washington	7% higher than average	$95,792
#25 Missouri	16% higher than average	$74,962
#26 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$83,481
#27 Alabama	13% higher than average	$76,302
#28 Vermont	13% higher than average	$98,215
#29 New York	5% higher than average	$90,721
#30 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$80,671
#31 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$84,341
#32 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$78,522
#33 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$77,009
#34 Maryland	18% higher than average	$97,696
#35 Oregon	11% higher than average	$91,679
#36 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$69,152
#37 North Dakota	average	$81,922
#38 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$75,513
#39 Utah	4% higher than average	$77,202
#40 Idaho	7% higher than average	$73,330
#41 Maine	9% higher than average	$85,588
#42 Montana	3% higher than average	$75,842
#43 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$67,001
#44 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$67,696
#45 Alaska	23% higher than average	$95,351
#46 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$69,156
#47 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$112,897
#48 Florida	6% higher than average	$71,378
#49 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$62,303
#50 Nevada	5% higher than average	$77,977
#51 Indiana	11% higher than average	$65,182
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$82,055

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Natural Sciences Managers	$122,066
Managers, All Other	$106,040
History Teachers, Postsecondary	$79,776
Historians	$68,010
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$61,619
Curators	$59,249
Archivists	$57,582
Museum Technicians and Conservators	$46,300

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Online History Programs Looking for You

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Bachelor’s of History Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Top 10 Online Bachelor's in History Degree Programs

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About History Degrees

Why get a bachelor’s in history?

What are the different areas of history you can study while getting a bachelor’s in history?

How long does it take to get a bachelor’s in history?

What can you do with a bachelor’s in history?

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in History Degree Programs

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Arizona

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Memphis

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Central Florida

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Idaho

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Florida International University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Providence College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Troy University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at Sam Houston State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Northern Kentucky University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Liberty University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at University of North Alabama

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Idaho State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Tennessee at Martin

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Norfolk State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Southern New Hampshire University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at West Texas A&M University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Nebraska at Kearney

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at Southeast Missouri State University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at Westfield State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at University of Missouri–St. Louis

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for History degree at Regent University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for History degree at Arkansas Tech University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with History Degree

History

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Career Salaries

Average Career Salaries

Promising Job Markets

Top Industries

Online History Programs Looking for You

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+