History
Offered at 1,925 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 32 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 202 | — | $42,843 | — |
| Bachelor's | 1,169 | $37,830 | $53,799 | $21,723 |
| Master's | 338 | $49,924 | $56,856 | — |
| Doctoral | 140 | — | $74,157 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 44 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Valley State University | MI | $42,333 | — | $21,924 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Community College District | TX | — | $52,692 | — |
| 2 | College of the Canyons | CA | — | $46,756 | — |
| 3 | American Public University System | WV | — | $45,696 | $20,142 |
| 4 | College of Western Idaho | ID | — | $45,649 | — |
| 5 | Fresno City College | CA | — | $42,843 | — |
| 6 | Mt San Antonio College | CA | — | $38,829 | — |
| 7 | Modesto Junior College | CA | — | $37,955 | — |
| 8 | South Texas College | TX | — | $36,326 | — |
| 9 | Merced College | CA | — | $32,710 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth College | NH | $69,917 | $110,942 | $12,000 |
| 2 | Amherst College | MA | $54,456 | $102,511 | — |
| 3 | Williams College | MA | $57,743 | $98,610 | $9,500 |
| 4 | Hobart William Smith Colleges | NY | $44,184 | $97,268 | $25,500 |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | $58,276 | $95,624 | $21,500 |
| 6 | Brown University | RI | $60,823 | $91,370 | — |
| 7 | Emory University | GA | $44,684 | $88,615 | — |
| 8 | Colgate University | NY | $53,765 | $88,273 | — |
| 9 | Princeton University | NJ | $48,516 | $87,660 | — |
| 10 | College of the Holy Cross | MA | $56,591 | $87,418 | $21,500 |
| 11 | Wake Forest University | NC | $39,514 | $85,916 | — |
| 12 | Georgetown University | DC | — | $84,848 | $19,000 |
| 13 | Virginia Military Institute | VA | $45,298 | $82,235 | $19,500 |
| 14 | Northwestern University | IL | $35,279 | $81,517 | $15,464 |
| 15 | University of Pennsylvania | PA | $55,825 | $81,074 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston College | MA | $59,022 | $76,971 | — |
| 2 | Pace University | NY | $76,624 | — | — |
| 3 | Norwich University | VT | $52,931 | $75,729 | — |
| 4 | Rutgers University-Camden | NJ | $49,534 | $75,157 | — |
| 5 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | $49,534 | $75,157 | — |
| 6 | Rutgers University-Newark | NJ | $49,534 | $75,157 | — |
| 7 | George Mason University | VA | $59,880 | $74,813 | — |
| 8 | Columbia University in the City of New York | NY | — | $72,148 | — |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $55,503 | $69,492 | — |
| 10 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion | AZ | $55,503 | $69,492 | — |
| 11 | American Public University System | WV | $61,591 | $68,335 | — |
| 12 | California State University-Sacramento | CA | — | $67,961 | — |
| 13 | Ashland University | OH | $63,346 | $67,507 | — |
| 14 | Fort Hays State University | KS | $67,007 | — | — |
| 15 | Central Connecticut State University | CT | — | $65,420 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | — | $76,155 | — |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | — | $74,157 | — |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | — | $73,999 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Public University System | WV | $79,176 | $49,920 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Quick answers
- How much do history graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in history reports median earnings of $37,830. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
