Compare 562 History. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $46,884. Top programs: $136,403+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, History tells a different story. Across 562 programs, earnings range from $15,288 to $136,403—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. The school you attend matters less than the specific program you choose within it.
Topping the list, Dartmouth College's History program delivers $136,403 in median earnings—nearly triple the $46,884 national average across all 562 ranked programs. Duke (ranked #2 at $112,377) and Yale (#3 at $109,947) follow closely, but the takeaway isn't the names—it's that program-level selection drives outcomes far more than institutional prestige alone.
For students borrowing independently, Duke University leads on affordability: just $13,000 in student debt produces a 2.0% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS rating. Families considering parent loans should note that Duke also wins on combined burden—a 6.9% family payment burden that still lands in the 'Excellent' tier, meaning loan payments take a minimal bite out of post-grad income.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $136,403 | 40 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Good |
| #2 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $112,377 | 41 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #3 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $109,947 | 94 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | Excellent |
| #4 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $103,601 | 23 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Good |
| #5 | $100,087 | 19 | $19,500 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good | |
| #6 | $98,079 | 111 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #7 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $88,517 | 64 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good |
| #8 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $85,520 | 83 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Manageable |
| #9 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $82,031 | 50 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable |
| #10 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $80,347 | 68 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Manageable |
| #11 | Boston CollegePrivate | $80,073 | 64 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Manageable |
| #12 | $79,940 | 82 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Manageable | |
| #13 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $78,966 | 63 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good |
| #14 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $75,784 | 31 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | Challenging |
| #15 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $75,501 | 46 | $15,500 | Excellent | $33,944 | Manageable |
| #16 | New York UniversityPrivate | $74,545 | 118 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #17 | $72,630 | 34 | $22,996 | Excellent | $36,278 | Manageable | |
| #18 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $72,423 | 65 | $27,000 | Excellent | $39,032 | Challenging |
| #19 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $72,389 | 54 | $24,300 | Excellent | $37,095 | Challenging |
| #20 | $71,187 | 139 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Manageable | |
| #21 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $70,734 | 72 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Manageable |
| #22 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $70,679 | 139 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Manageable |
| #23 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $70,423 | 57 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Challenging |
| #24 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $69,988 | 38 | $18,250 | Excellent | $30,480 | Manageable |
| #25 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $69,820 | 49 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Manageable |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
