Best colleges for History in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Duke University, Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are the top bachelor's History programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Duke University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,750, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University at Raleigh award the most History degrees in North Carolina: 102, 91 and 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 44 North Carolina colleges offer History and award 831 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 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,750 | 38 | 97% | $16,260 | $13,000 |
| 2 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,909 | 48 | 60% | — | $24,004 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,592 | 91 | 91% | — | $14,838 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,791 | 102 | 69% | — | $24,457 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,251 | 79 | 85% | — | $19,800 |
| 6 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,219 | 42 | 63% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,454 | 69 | 75% | — | $20,400 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,205 | 26 | 54% | — | $16,690 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,089 | 70 | 56% | — | $24,750 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,047 | 64 | 71% | — | $24,500 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 102 | $33,791 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 91 | $34,592 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 79 | $33,251 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 70 | $25,089 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 69 | $28,454 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 64 | $25,047 |
| 7 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 48 | $34,909 |
| 8 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 42 | $33,219 |
| 9 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 38 | $60,750 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 26 | $28,205 |
ShowHide the other 34 North Carolina colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 18 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 14 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 11 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 8 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 7 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 2 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Wake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most History degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (102 graduates a year), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (91 graduates a year) and North Carolina State University at Raleigh (79 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 44 North Carolina colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Duke University leads among bachelor's History programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,750, College Scorecard. Western Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest, with 102 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Duke University tops the list at $60,750. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Historians in North Carolina is $74,300 (median $73,440), across about 120 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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