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# Best History Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

This page ranks 39 History programs in California by median earnings of History graduates four years after completing, highest first. [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) leads the list at $79,940, followed by [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) at $66,518 and [California State University-East Bay](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/majors/) at $65,217.

Across the listed programs, the median is $51,913, with figures ranging from $79,940 to $21,964. For 9 of the 39 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 77% of the list, or 30 of the 39 programs. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.

## The ranked list

39 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $79,940 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) reports [$79,940 in median earnings](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) of History graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, alongside an admission rate of 10%. |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $66,518 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list with [median earnings of $66,518](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $16,665. |
| 3 | California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA | $65,217 | $9,320 | $6,360 | 97.4% |
|  | Graduates of [California State University-East Bay](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/majors/) left with a [median of $20,000](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/outcomes/) in federal loans among History completers who borrowed, while the program's median earnings four years after completing reached $65,217. |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $64,755 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) [admits 11% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/admissions/) and its History graduates earned a median of $64,755 four years after completing, with a cohort of 121 graduates in the earnings data. |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $61,745 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | With an [Azimuth composite rank of 1st](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) reports median earnings of $61,745 for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $60,519 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | An [average net price of $17,890](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/cost/) coincides with median earnings of $60,519 for History graduates of [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) four years after completing. |
| 7 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $59,555 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) reports a cohort of 249 graduates in the earnings data, and its History completers earned a [median of $59,555](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $59,342 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | An [average net price of $16,109](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/cost/) and median earnings of $59,342 four years after completing are reported by [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/), which ranks 8th on this list. |
| 9 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $58,717 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/san-francisco-state-university/admissions/), and its History graduates earned a median of $58,717 four years after completing. |
| 10 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $57,861 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | A [median federal debt of $13,881](/school/san-diego-state-university/cost/) among History completers who borrowed is reported by [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/), alongside median earnings of $57,861 four years after completing. |
| 11 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $57,734 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) places 18th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its History graduates earned a [median of $57,734](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 12 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $56,819 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $12,885,](/school/sonoma-state-university/cost/) and its History graduates earned a median of $56,819 four years after completing. |
| 13 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $56,081 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
|  | [California State University-Bakersfield](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,081](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $5,652. |
| 14 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $55,797 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 94%](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/admissions/), [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and counts 115 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 15 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $55,413 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) carries the lowest average net price on the page at $3,967 and a [median federal debt of $14,777](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/cost/) among History completers who borrowed. |
| 16 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $54,239 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Riverside, [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $54,239](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $53,481 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) [admits 29% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-irvine/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $53,481 for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $52,985 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
|  | Ranking 18th on this list, [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/majors/) posts a [median federal debt of $16,847](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/cost/) among History completers who borrowed and an admission rate of 95%. |
| 19 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $52,423 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) reports [median earnings of $52,423](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing, with 146 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 20 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $51,913 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
|  | An [average net price of $14,304](/school/university-of-california-riverside/cost/) and median earnings of $51,913 for its History graduates four years after completing are reported by [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/). |
| 21 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $51,676 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) ranks 21st on this list and shows an [admission rate of 95%](/school/california-state-university-fresno/admissions/), alongside a median federal debt of $18,497 among History completers who borrowed. |
| 22 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $51,217 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | Median earnings of $51,217 for its History graduates four years after completing and an [average net price of $11,531](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) are posted by [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/). |
| 23 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $49,882 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
|  | [California State University-Stanislaus](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $10,275](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/cost/) among History completers who borrowed and an admission rate of 98%. |
| 24 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $49,351 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
|  | With 53 graduates in the earnings cohort, [California State University-Chico](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) posts [median earnings of $49,351](/school/california-state-university-chico/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $48,309 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) reports [median earnings of $48,309](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $6,555. |
| 26 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $45,821 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 93%](/school/california-state-university-northridge/admissions/), [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) carries a median federal debt of $15,000 among History completers who borrowed. |
| 27 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $44,655 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/) posts [median earnings of $44,655](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing and ranks 43rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 28 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $44,144 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | An [average net price of $7,945](/school/university-of-california-merced/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 accompanies median earnings of $44,144 for History graduates four years after completing at [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/). |
| 29 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $43,798 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $43,798](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $42,682 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
|  | [San Jose State University](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) [ranks 23rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/san-jose-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and lists median earnings of $42,682 for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 31 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $42,229 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
|  | [California State University-Channel Islands](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/majors/) carries a [median federal debt of $15,898](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/cost/) among History completers who borrowed, with median earnings of $42,229 four years after completing. |
| 32 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $42,119 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | An [admission rate of 98%](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/) at [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) coincides with median earnings of $42,119 for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 33 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $33,993 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
|  | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/) shows an [average net price of $31,537](/school/university-of-san-francisco/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $33,993 for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 34 | Stanford University · Stanford, CA | $32,925 | $13,807 | \-$2,536\* | 3.6% |
|  | [Stanford University](/school/stanford-university/majors/) [ranks 28th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/stanford-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 4% of applicants, the lowest admission rate on the page. |
| 35 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $32,925 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
|  | [Azusa Pacific University](/school/azusa-pacific-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $32,925](/school/azusa-pacific-university/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $22,212. |
| 36 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $31,851 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) ranks 36th on this list and shows an [average net price of $32,268](/school/loyola-marymount-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 37 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $25,967 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) ranks 37th on this list, with [median earnings of $25,967](/school/chapman-university/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing. |
| 38 | Concordia University-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $25,774 | $28,115 | $25,431 | 66.0% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Irvine, Concordia University-Irvine reports an average net price of $28,115 and an admission rate of 66%. |
| 39 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $21,964 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
|  | [California State University-Dominguez Hills](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/majors/) reports [median earnings of $21,964](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/outcomes/) for its History graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $8,615 and a 93% admission rate. |

\* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their History graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 9 of the 39 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from top to bottom spans $57,976, with University of Southern California at $79,940 and the lowest listed program at $21,964.

## Related rankings

-   History Programs
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Top History Programs in North Carolina by Earnings](/rankings/best-history-programs-in-north-carolina/)
-   [Best History Programs in Indiana](/rankings/best-history-programs-in-indiana/)
-   [Best History Programs in New Jersey](/rankings/best-history-programs-in-new-jersey/)