Best History Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
25
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$56,586
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$39,045
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate: 95.1% |
NY | +$345,936 | $67,901 | $86,042 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Ashland University
Grad rate: 60.4% |
OH | +$315,662 | $61,835 | $40,519 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate: 69.3% |
CA | +$268,566 | $57,105 | $16,767 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Norwich University
Grad rate: 61.1% |
VT | +$207,904 | $58,905 | $65,098 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Boston College
Grad rate: 91.0% |
MA | +$203,834 | $60,560 | $83,683 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
San Francisco State University
Grad rate: 52.2% |
CA | +$198,044 | $54,428 | $25,258 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Grad rate: 27.4% |
AZ | +$177,840 | $50,892 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
American Public University System
Grad rate: 54.3% |
WV | +$175,564 | $52,414 | $16,358 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
California State University-Sacramento
Grad rate: 55.1% |
CA | +$169,392 | $52,741 | $22,714 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
New York University
Grad rate: 87.8% |
NY | +$144,598 | $57,142 | $79,121 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
American University
Grad rate: 79.0% |
DC | +$142,542 | $56,282 | $71,549 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Grad rate: 67.4% |
AZ | +$121,746 | $50,892 | $28,047 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Sam Houston State University
Grad rate: 55.6% |
TX | +$97,266 | $49,315 | $24,517 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
George Mason University
Grad rate: 69.9% |
VA | +$77,836 | $48,589 | $26,972 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
CA | +$42,906 | $46,177 | $20,317 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Grad rate: 52.3% |
TX | +$6,252 | $44,460 | $21,474 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Simmons University
Grad rate: 73.0% |
MA | -$5,104 | $48,096 | $63,512 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Grad rate: 56.8% |
NE | -$24,644 | $43,213 | $24,452 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 66.2% |
PA | -$38,022 | $42,577 | $24,781 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Grad rate: 51.1% |
MA | -$63,196 | $41,810 | $29,698 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Grad rate: 57.9% |
NC | -$155,216 | $36,202 | $19,628 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Wright State University-Main Campus
Grad rate: 44.8% |
OH | -$194,130 | $34,619 | $23,255 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Southern New Hampshire University
Grad rate: 43.2% |
NH | -$204,188 | $35,543 | $37,524 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Middle Tennessee State University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
TN | -$251,108 | $31,720 | $22,754 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Duquesne University
Grad rate: 76.6% |
PA | -$345,624 | $31,023 | $63,042 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best History Degrees by State
Browse History programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.