Best colleges for History in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Wayne State University, Oakland University and Central Michigan University are the top bachelor's History programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Wayne State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,874, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University award the most History degrees in Michigan: 92, 64 and 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 Michigan colleges offer History and award 501 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 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,874 | 33 | 58% | — | $32,544 |
| 2 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,257 | 36 | 58% | — | $22,875 |
| 3 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,000 | 22 | 59% | — | $25,905 |
| 4 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,434 | 45 | 81% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,215 | 92 | 93% | — | $19,494 |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,414 | 29 | 46% | — | $29,118 |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,341 | 64 | 67% | — | $26,500 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,087 | 20 | 58% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,628 | 13 | 48% | — | $29,702 |
| 10 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,675 | 13 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Michigan
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 92 | $31,215 |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 64 | $27,341 |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 45 | $32,434 |
| 4 | Hillsdale College Hillsdale Private not-for-profit | 42 | Not reported |
| 5 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 36 | $36,257 |
| 6 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 33 | $41,874 |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 29 | $28,414 |
| 8 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 22 | $33,000 |
| 9 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 20 | $27,087 |
| 10 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 19 Michigan colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 13 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Public | 13 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center | Public | 13 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 6 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids | Public | 3 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 2 |
| Gogebic Community College | Ironwood | Public | 1 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| The University of Olivet | Olivet | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most History degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (92 graduates a year), Grand Valley State University (64 graduates a year) and Michigan State University (45 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 Michigan colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Wayne State University leads among bachelor's History programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,874, College Scorecard. Oakland University and Central Michigan University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 92 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Wayne State University tops the list at $41,874. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Historians in Michigan is $68,190 (median $62,920), across about 80 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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