Top History Programs in North Carolina by Earnings (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 17 History programs in North Carolina by the median earnings of History graduates four years after completing. Duke University ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $112,377 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $112,377 to $24,730, with a median of $42,698. For 5 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
11 of the programs are at public institutions and 6 are at private nonprofits, a 65% public share. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 50th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $10,260.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University · Durham, NC | $112,377 | $29,612 | $735 | 5.7% |
| Duke University ranks 1st on this list with $112,377 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 6%. | |||||
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC | $57,952 | $11,655 | $2,004 | 15.3% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports $57,952 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $11,655. | |||||
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke · Pembroke, NC | $49,535 | $10,260 | $7,919 | 93.3% |
| With an admission rate of 93%, University of North Carolina at Pembroke ranks 3rd and shows $49,535 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $49,500 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh posts $49,500 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $16,500 among History completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $49,359 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranks 5th with $49,359 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,435. | |||||
| 6 | North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC | $48,047 | $15,359 | $13,032 | 87.0% |
| North Carolina Central University reports $48,047 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $30,747 among History completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 7 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $46,072 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington ranks 7th with $46,072 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 64%. | |||||
| 8 | East Carolina University · Greenville, NC | $44,113 | $15,739 | $10,046 | 89.2% |
| East Carolina University posts $44,113 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,739. | |||||
| 9 | Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC | $42,698 | $13,315 | $8,816 | 81.8% |
| Western Carolina University ranks 9th with $42,698 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $23,814 among History completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC | $42,251 | $10,965 | $7,305 | 88.5% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro reports $42,251 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 89%. | |||||
| 11 | Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem, NC | $41,789 | $28,719 | $6,525 | 21.7% |
| Wake Forest University ranks 11th with $41,789 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $28,719. | |||||
| 12 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $40,371 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Appalachian State University posts $40,371 in median earnings of History graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $20,000 among History completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 13 | University of North Carolina Asheville · Asheville, NC | $38,565 | $12,250 | $8,219 | 91.9% |
| University of North Carolina Asheville reports median earnings of $38,565 for its History graduates four years after completing, with 21 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | Guilford College · Greensboro, NC | $33,993 | $22,270 | $18,367 | 80.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Greensboro, Guilford College admits 80% of applicants and posts an average net price of $22,270. | |||||
| 15 | Warren Wilson College · Swannanoa, NC | $26,739 | $21,249 | $13,566 | 71.3% |
| Warren Wilson College ranks 15th on this list and carries an average net price of $13,566 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 16 | Elon University · Elon, NC | $26,353 | $41,555 | $26,523 | 66.4% |
| Elon University shows median earnings of $26,353 for its History graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 66%. | |||||
| 17 | Belmont Abbey College · Belmont, NC | $24,730 | $24,639 | $20,610 | 74.7% |
| Belmont Abbey College reports 10 graduates in the earnings cohort and ranks 1342nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
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 North Carolina appear. The earnings figures cover federally aided History graduates who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 5 of the 17 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. Duke University reports $112,377, which is $54,425 above the $57,952 posted by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The spread from top to bottom is $87,647.