Best colleges for History in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Amherst College, Harvard University and University of Massachusetts-Boston are the top bachelor's History programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Amherst College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,444, College Scorecard. Harvard University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Boston College award the most History degrees in Massachusetts: 237, 71 and 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Massachusetts colleges offer History and award 1,089 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 | Amherst College Amherst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,444 | 25 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,468 | 237 | 98% | $15,013 | $12,721 |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,908 | 40 | 49% | — | $24,862 |
| 4 | Fitchburg State University Fitchburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,184 | 28 | 55% | — | $21,635 |
| 5 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,345 | 31 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,447 | 40 | 94% | $23,570 | $15,750 |
| 7 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,341 | 65 | 91% | $21,126 | $19,000 |
| 8 | Worcester State University Worcester Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,028 | 24 | 61% | — | $24,610 |
| 9 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,215 | 42 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,903 | 27 | 86% | $25,074 | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 237 | $53,468 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 71 | $26,805 |
| 3 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 65 | $41,341 |
| 4 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 5 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public | 42 | $34,215 |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 40 | $46,908 |
| 8 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 40 | $41,447 |
| 9 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit | 31 | $42,345 |
| 10 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 36 Massachusetts colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 29 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 28 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 28 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | Public | 24 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 21 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 19 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 14 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Endicott College | Beverly | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Springfield College | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 6 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Dean College | Franklin | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams | Public | 5 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 4 |
| Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable | Public | 4 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lasell University | Newton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lesley University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 4 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Sattler College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bentley University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most History degrees?+
Harvard University (237 graduates a year), University of Massachusetts-Amherst (71 graduates a year) and Boston College (65 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Massachusetts colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Amherst College leads among bachelor's History programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,444, College Scorecard. Harvard University and University of Massachusetts-Boston follow. By degrees awarded, Harvard University is the largest, with 237 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Amherst College tops the list at $56,444. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Historians in Massachusetts is $112,310 (median $121,710). 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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