Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
History
CIP54.01
1,227 colleges offer History. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 1,227
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $50,387
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,014
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 62
- Associate's
- 249
- Bachelor's
- 1,227
- Master's
- 376
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 11
- Doctoral
- 154
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 83
What it covers
About History
A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 54.01.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 54.01.
- History, General
- American History (United States)
- European History
- History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
- Public/Applied History
- Asian History
- Canadian History
- Military History
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 62 | $42,3331 yr after · 1 college | $20,5001 college |
| Associate's | 249 | $45,3354 yrs after · 4 colleges | $11,6761 college |
| Bachelor's | 1,227 | $50,3874 yrs after · 443 colleges | $20,014361 colleges |
| Master's | 376 | $55,9304 yrs after · 35 colleges | $30,90515 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 11 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 154 | $76,9064 yrs after · 6 colleges | $75,0741 college |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 83 | Not reported | $36,9081 college |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where History graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit · 48 graduates
$136,403
debt $12,000
- 2
Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · 17 graduates
$112,377
debt not reported
- 3
New Haven, CT · Private nonprofit · 129 graduates
$109,947
debt $7,500
- 4
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$103,601
debt not reported
- 5
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofit · 29 graduates
$100,087
debt not reported
- 6
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 122 graduates
$98,079
debt $22,250
- 7
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 44 graduates
$88,517
debt not reported
- 8
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 64 graduates
$85,520
debt not reported
- 9
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 33 graduates
$82,031
debt not reported
- 10
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit · 56 graduates
$80,347
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to History by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Management
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Compliance Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Loss Prevention Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Management
Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Questions about History
How many colleges offer History?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report History at these degree levels: certificate (62 colleges), associate's (249 colleges), bachelor's (1,227 colleges), master's (376 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (11 colleges), doctoral (154 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (83 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do History graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in History earn $50,387 a year four years after finishing, across 443 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do History graduates earn the most?
Dartmouth College reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in History: $136,403 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.