# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/history
- CIP code: 54.01 (History)
- Colleges offering it: 1,227 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 62 | $42,333 | not reported | $20,500 |
| Associate's | 249 | not reported | $45,335 | $11,676 |
| Bachelor's | 1,227 | $37,871 | $50,387 | $20,014 |
| Master's | 376 | $49,534 | $55,930 | $30,905 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 154 | not reported | $76,906 | $75,074 |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 83 | not reported | not reported | $36,908 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Hanover, NH | $136,403 | $12,000 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Durham, NC | $112,377 | not reported |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | New Haven, CT | $109,947 | $7,500 |
| [Amherst College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/amherst-college-72) | Amherst, MA | $103,601 | not reported |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Lexington, VA | $100,087 | not reported |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York, NY | $98,079 | $22,250 |
| [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Philadelphia, PA | $88,517 | not reported |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Providence, RI | $85,520 | not reported |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Ithaca, NY | $82,031 | not reported |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Princeton, NJ | $80,347 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [History Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/history-teachers-postsecondary): $83,820 median pay
- [Historians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/historians): $76,750 median pay
- [Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education): $72,040 median pay
- [Archivists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/archivists): $64,550 median pay
- [Curators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/curators): $63,420 median pay
- [Museum Technicians and Conservators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/museum-technicians-and-conservators): $51,440 median pay
- [Tour Guides and Escorts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tour-guides-and-escorts): $38,120 median pay

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/