California · Historic Preservation and Conservation

Best colleges for Historic Preservation and Conservation in California

Ranked by graduates a year

Sonoma State University, University of Southern California and California State University - Northridge award the most Historic Preservation and Conservation degrees and certificates in California: 7, 7 and 4 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 California colleges offer Historic Preservation and Conservation and award 21 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Historic Preservation and Conservation program focuses on preserving, conserving, and protecting buildings, landscapes, and artifacts of historical significance. This interdisciplinary field combines elements of history, archaeology,…

Institutions
4
offering CIP 30.12
States offered
34
with a program page
Degrees / yr
21
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
—
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,873
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
66%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Historians
$100,750
BLS OEWS May 2025

4 institutions offering Historic Preservation and Conservation in California

Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.

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
1Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park Public
—758%——
2University of Southern California
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit
—792%$26,873—
3California State University - Northridge
Northridge Public
—457%——
4California State University - San Bernardino
San Bernardino Public
—355%——

Colleges awarding the most Historic Preservation and Conservation degrees in California

Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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)
1Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park Public
7Not reported
2University of Southern California
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
3California State University - Northridge
Northridge Public
4Not reported
4California State University - San Bernardino
San Bernardino Public
3Not reported

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 California

Jobs in California
210
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$100,750
median $97,420
Best-paying metro
$103,980
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

Related careers

Facilities Managers
$127,420 avg · 20,550 jobs
Archivists
$77,160 avg · 1,160 jobs
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$122,400 avg · 770 jobs
Historians
$100,750 avg · 210 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Historic Preservation and Conservation programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Historic Preservation and Conservation degrees?+

Sonoma State University (7 graduates a year), University of Southern California (7 graduates a year) and California State University - Northridge (4 graduates a year) award the most Historic Preservation and Conservation degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 California colleges offer Historic Preservation and Conservation.

How much do Historians earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Historians in California is $100,750 (median $97,420), across about 210 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Historic Preservation and Conservation program?+

The Historic Preservation and Conservation program focuses on preserving, conserving, and protecting buildings, landscapes, and artifacts of historical significance. This interdisciplinary field combines elements of history, archaeology,…

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).

Historic Preservation and Conservation in other statesSouth CarolinaAlabamaArizonaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgia

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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