Best colleges for History in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
San Diego State University, California State University - Northridge and University of Southern California are the top bachelor's History programs in California by graduate earnings. San Diego State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,203, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Santa Barbara and California State University - Long Beach award the most History degrees in California: 238, 177 and 148 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 176 California colleges offer History and award 4,706 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…
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,203 | 115 | 76% | — | $13,881 |
| 2 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,031 | 96 | 57% | — | $15,000 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,876 | 88 | 92% | $26,873 | $12,638 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,081 | 80 | 75% | — | $18,279 |
| 5 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,596 | 132 | 56% | — | $18,000 |
| 6 | California State University - Stanislaus Turlock Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,184 | 58 | 53% | — | $11,656 |
| 7 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,992 | 28 | 58% | — | $16,304 |
| 8 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,895 | 120 | 86% | — | $14,593 |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,540 | 43 | 86% | — | $17,627 |
| 10 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,059 | 40 | 48% | — | $20,000 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in California
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 238 | $28,116 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 177 | $29,749 |
| 3 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 148 | $25,014 |
| 4 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 132 | $32,596 |
| 5 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 131 | $27,083 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 129 | $28,849 |
| 7 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 120 | $31,895 |
| 8 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 115 | $38,203 |
| 9 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 109 | $21,642 |
| 10 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 98 | $29,824 |
ShowHide the other 166 California colleges offering History
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most History degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (238 graduates a year), University of California-Santa Barbara (177 graduates a year) and California State University - Long Beach (148 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 176 California colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in California?+
By graduate earnings, San Diego State University leads among bachelor's History programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,203, College Scorecard. California State University - Northridge and University of Southern California follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 238 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, San Diego State University tops the list at $38,203. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
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 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.
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