Best colleges for History in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Columbia University, Barnard College and Cornell University are the top bachelor's History programs in New York by graduate earnings. Columbia University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,828, College Scorecard. Columbia University, New York University and Stony Brook University award the most History degrees in New York: 178, 106 and 86 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 84 New York colleges offer History and award 1,933 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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,828 | 178 | 96% | $15,315 | $22,000 |
| 2 | Barnard College New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,092 | 41 | 93% | $24,675 | $16,425 |
| 3 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,706 | 36 | 95% | $17,613 | $16,884 |
| 4 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,874 | 23 | 51% | — | $15,090 |
| 5 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,636 | 106 | 88% | $29,023 | $19,000 |
| 6 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,461 | 29 | 91% | $29,107 | $19,000 |
| 7 | Nazareth University Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,677 | 21 | 73% | $27,945 | $25,000 |
| 8 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,426 | 86 | 76% | — | $21,000 |
| 9 | SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,822 | 22 | 33% | — | $25,394 |
| 10 | St Lawrence University Canton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,230 | 20 | 79% | $24,100 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in New York
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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 178 | $53,828 |
| 2 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 106 | $39,636 |
| 3 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 86 | $36,426 |
| 4 | University at Albany Albany Public | 81 | $32,174 |
| 5 | Binghamton University Vestal Public | 77 | $24,498 |
| 6 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 71 | $28,857 |
| 7 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit | 55 | $20,075 |
| 8 | CUNY City College New York Public | 53 | $30,290 |
| 9 | United States Military Academy West Point Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 10 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 46 | $34,610 |
ShowHide the other 74 New York colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State University (Degree completion) | Saratoga Springs | Public | 49 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York | Public | 42 |
| Barnard College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island | Public | 40 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 38 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 37 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 36 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 30 |
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 28 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 26 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Suffolk County Community College | Selden | Public | 24 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx | Public | 23 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury | Public | 23 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | Public | 23 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | Brooklyn | Public | 22 |
| St. Joseph's University - New York | Brooklyn | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 22 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland | Public | 21 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Iona University | New Rochelle | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | New York | Public | 15 |
| Mount Saint Mary College | Newburgh | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| SUNY at Purchase College | Purchase | Public | 15 |
| SUNY College at Potsdam | Potsdam | Public | 14 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 13 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | New York | Public | 12 |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | New York | Public | 12 |
| Marist University | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Hartwick College | Oneonta | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | Public | 11 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| The New School | New York | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Yeshiva University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Niagara University | Niagara University | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Pace University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Alfred University | Alfred | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Houghton University | Houghton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Mercy University | Dobbs Ferry | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Excelsior University (Online) | Albany | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Manhattanville University | Purchase | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Molloy University | Rockville Centre | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 5 |
| Wagner College | Staten Island | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Clarkson University | Potsdam | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Manhattan University | Riverdale | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Utica University | Utica | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas College | Sparkill | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| CUNY York College | Jamaica | Public | 1 |
| Daemen University | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Dominican University New York | Orangeburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Elmira College | Elmira | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Marymount Manhattan College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Russell Sage College | Troy | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St Bonaventure University | Saint Bonaventure | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St. Francis College | Brooklyn | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Touro University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most History degrees?+
Columbia University (178 graduates a year), New York University (106 graduates a year) and Stony Brook University (86 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 84 New York colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Columbia University leads among bachelor's History programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,828, College Scorecard. Barnard College and Cornell University follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia University is the largest, with 178 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Columbia University tops the list at $53,828. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Historians in New York is $68,200 (median $62,960), across about 410 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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