Compare 39 History. programs in California. Average earnings: $43,903.
The highest-earning History program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $16K earnings gap across 39 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Southern California's History program leads with graduates earning $59,624, well above the $43,903 average across California programs. UC Irvine follows at $57,191, while UC Berkeley reaches $56,461—showing how program quality varies even within the prestigious UC system.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 5.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families including parent loans, UC Irvine leads with a 16.3% burden—manageable for most graduates.
Highest program earnings: $59,624
Strong outcomes ($53,086) with 96% acceptance
5.3% payment burden | Excellent
16.3% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $59,624 | 64 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $57,191 | 73 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $56,461 | 119 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $53,086 | 78 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $53,071 | 64 | $18,500 | Good | $35,000 | High | |
| #6 | Azusa Pacific UniversityPrivate | $51,687 | 11 | $23,219 | Good | $26,000 | High |
| #7 | $49,855 | 111 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #8 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $49,631 | 23 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High |
| #9 | $48,919 | 90 | $15,500 | Good | $24,257 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $47,888 | 328 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Challenging | |
| #11 | $47,393 | 54 | $15,000 | Good | $22,033 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $47,117 | 174 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $46,913 | 36 | $16,544 | Good | $15,738 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $46,599 | 78 | $17,350 | Good | $18,031 | Challenging | |
| #15 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $46,073 | 61 | $16,705 | Good | $27,986 | High |
| #16 | $45,280 | 103 | $13,750 | Good | $16,538 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $45,277 | 113 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | High | |
| #18 | $44,604 | 68 | $16,552 | Good | $17,585 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $44,147 | 75 | $13,872 | Good | $13,522 | Challenging | |
| #20 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $43,798 | 17 | $19,162 | Manageable | $56,271 | High |
| #21 | $43,713 | 143 | $14,289 | Good | $15,177 | Challenging | |
| #22 | $43,636 | 76 | $16,000 | Good | $15,000 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $42,682 | 48 | $15,000 | Good | $20,820 | High | |
| #24 | $42,305 | 20 | $16,144 | Good | $18,376 | High | |
| #25 | $41,432 | 97 | $14,505 | Good | $12,050 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
