Best History Graduate Programs

We ranked the top grad schools for history acccording to economic returns. Three years after completing their degree, history master’s graduates earn a weighted average salary of $43,449. 

Our rankings of master’s in history programs cover 52 of the 177 programs available, accounting for 51% of total conferrals. We are unable to include schools for which there are insufficient earnings and/or debt data.



 

Filters
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • History
  • Clear all filters
Sort By
Earnings
Debt
Rankings
Ranking methodology

20 of 39

#1 in History

Ashland University

Ashland, Ohio

Economic score 0.20

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $63,830

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $16,481

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#2 in History
Economic score 0.40

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $44,773

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $19,783

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#3 in History
Economic score 0.42

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $64,786

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $33,556

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#4 in History

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

Economic score 0.42

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $54,017

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $28,914

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#5 in History
Economic score 0.46

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $53,810

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $28,903

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#6 in History

Monmouth University

West Long Branch, New Jersey

Economic score 0.47

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $59,732

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $36,371

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#7 in History

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Economic score 0.54

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $60,560

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $41,625

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#8 in History

American University

Washington, District of Columbia

Economic score 0.54

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $59,645

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $41,000

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#9 in History
Economic score 0.62

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $40,779

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $27,872

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#10 in History
Economic score 0.63

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $43,213

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $26,307

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#11 in History

Norwich University

Northfield, Vermont

Economic score 0.63

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $58,026

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $40,898

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#12 in History
Economic score 0.65

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $46,177

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.6

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $26,579

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#13 in History
Economic score 0.65

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $59,356

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $44,181

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#14 in History
Economic score 0.67

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $38,927

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $25,780

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#15 in History
Economic score 0.69

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $44,460

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $29,397

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#16 in History

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Economic score 0.69

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $45,305

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $30,875

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#17 in History
Economic score 0.69

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $52,638

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $36,542

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#18 in History

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

Economic score 0.70

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $53,157

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $37,994

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#19 in History

Columbia University

New York, New York

Economic score 0.70

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $67,901

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 1.0

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $66,561

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#20 in History
Economic score 0.74

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $50,892

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.8

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $38,969

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

Show more

How long does it take to pay down debt in history?

Years

Under a year

The average debt accrued from a master's degree in history is covered by average graduate earnings in under a year.

How much do graduates with a master's degree in history earn?

Salary

$46,901

The median master's degree in history graduate earns $46,901 4 years after graduating.

How much does a master's degree in history cost?

Net cost

$19,455

The average annual cost of a master's degree in history is $19,455. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.

Explore our other rankings

2024 Best Political Science Graduate Programs

The master's degree in government deepens your knowledge of political systems, prepares you for leadership, and opens doors to government careers.

2024 Best Master's in English Programs

A master's in English deepens critical thinking, communication, and writing skills for advanced career opportunities in education, publishing, and more.

2024 Best Master's in Communications Programs

Choose a master's degree in communication to enhance your communication skills and prepare for a variety of exciting careers in media, public relations, and marketing.

2024 Best Criminal Justice Graduate Programs

A top master's programs for criminal justice is your path to leadership in law enforcement, policy, or research.