Alabama · History

Best colleges for History in Alabama

Ranked by graduate earnings

Auburn University, University of South Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham are the top bachelor's History programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. Auburn University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,458, College Scorecard. The University of Alabama, University of North Alabama and Auburn University award the most History degrees in Alabama: 77, 44 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Alabama colleges offer History and award 355 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The History program offers students a comprehensive understanding of past events, societies, and cultures. It is designed for individuals interested in exploring various historical contexts, from American and European history to military…

Institutions
22
offering CIP 54.01
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
355
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$29,057
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,604
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Historians
$77,820
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Auburn University
Auburn Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,4584182%—$22,500
2University of South Alabama
Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,7442053%—$26,000
3University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,1213364%—$28,175
4University of North Alabama
Florence Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,9274455%—$19,350
5The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,5337773%—$20,568
6Troy University
Troy Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$39,5911250%—$28,500
7University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$32,2631454%——
8Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$29,0571755%—$31,000

Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Alabama

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public
77$25,533
2University of North Alabama
Florence Public
44$27,927
3Auburn University
Auburn Public
41$30,458
4University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Public
33$28,121
5University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Public
28Not reported
6Samford University
Birmingham Private not-for-profit
20Not reported
7University of South Alabama
Mobile Public
20$29,744
8Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public
17$29,057
9University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public
14$32,263
10Troy University
Troy Public
12$39,591
Show the other 12 Alabama colleges offering History
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Athens State University (Degree completion)AthensPublic12
Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomeryPublic7
University of West AlabamaLivingstonPublic6
Alabama State UniversityMontgomeryPublic5
Huntingdon CollegeMontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit4
University of MobileMobilePrivate not-for-profit4
Faulkner UniversityMontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit2
Miles CollegeFairfieldPrivate not-for-profit2
Spring Hill CollegeMobilePrivate not-for-profit2
Stillman CollegeTuscaloosaPrivate not-for-profit2
Tuskegee UniversityTuskegeePrivate not-for-profit2
Oakwood UniversityHuntsvillePrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.2%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$74,050
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningActive Learning

What Historians earn in Alabama

Jobs in Alabama
60
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$77,820
median $72,490
Best-paying metro
$78,110
Montgomery, AL

Related careers

History Teachers, Postsecondary
$73,210 avg · 340 jobs
Curators
$64,510 avg · 150 jobs
Museum Technicians and Conservators
$41,610 avg · 130 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing History programs in Alabama.

Which Alabama colleges award the most History degrees?+

The University of Alabama (77 graduates a year), University of North Alabama (44 graduates a year) and Auburn University (41 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Alabama colleges offer History.

What is the best college for History in Alabama?+

By graduate earnings, Auburn University leads among bachelor's History programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,458, College Scorecard. University of South Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Alabama is the largest, with 77 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which History program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Auburn University tops the list at $30,458. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Historians earn in Alabama?+

The average annual wage for Historians in Alabama is $77,820 (median $72,490), across about 60 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the History program?+

The History program offers students a comprehensive understanding of past events, societies, and cultures. It is designed for individuals interested in exploring various historical contexts, from American and European history to military…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Historians?+

The national job outlook is about +2.2% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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