Best institutions to study History in California
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 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | 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 |
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 History program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), San Diego State University tops the list at $38,203. Compare it against completions, 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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