Best colleges for History in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northwestern University, University of Chicago and Illinois State University are the top bachelor's History programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northwestern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,161, College Scorecard. Illinois State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Chicago award the most History degrees in Illinois: 134, 103 and 71 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 42 Illinois colleges offer History and award 867 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 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,161 | 66 | 95% | $14,799 | $15,917 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,616 | 71 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,465 | 134 | 65% | — | $23,125 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,889 | 36 | 68% | $28,141 | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,297 | 24 | 53% | — | $23,892 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,288 | 44 | 49% | — | $22,500 |
| 7 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,149 | 36 | 47% | — | $21,500 |
| 8 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,079 | 67 | 73% | $33,454 | $24,000 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,916 | 42 | 57% | — | $21,500 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,474 | 34 | 62% | — | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Illinois
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 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 134 | $40,465 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 103 | $26,436 |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 71 | $46,616 |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 67 | $31,079 |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 66 | $50,161 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 44 | $33,288 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 42 | $26,916 |
| 8 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 36 | $36,889 |
| 9 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 36 | $32,149 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 34 | $26,474 |
ShowHide the other 32 Illinois colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 24 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 18 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 17 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 13 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 12 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most History degrees?+
Illinois State University (134 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (103 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (71 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 42 Illinois colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northwestern University leads among bachelor's History programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,161, College Scorecard. University of Chicago and Illinois State University follow. By degrees awarded, Illinois State University is the largest, with 134 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwestern University tops the list at $50,161. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Historians in Illinois is $90,280 (median $89,670). 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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