Best colleges for History in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's History programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,555, College Scorecard. Gettysburg College, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and Pennsylvania State University award the most History degrees in Pennsylvania: 242, 97 and 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 82 Pennsylvania colleges offer History and award 1,305 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 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,555 | 66 | 97% | $22,055 | $11,000 |
| 2 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,460 | 28 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,634 | 30 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,586 | 53 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,976 | 31 | 56% | — | $29,250 |
| 6 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,792 | 25 | 58% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,591 | 97 | 85% | — | $24,400 |
| 8 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,451 | 26 | 77% | $32,060 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,803 | 69 | 86% | — | $26,322 |
| 10 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,497 | 242 | 83% | $24,453 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit | 242 | $28,497 |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 97 | $29,591 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 69 | $28,803 |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 66 | $48,555 |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 53 | $33,586 |
| 6 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 7 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 31 | $32,976 |
| 8 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 30 | $33,634 |
| 9 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg Public | 28 | $34,460 |
| 10 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 27 | $27,882 |
ShowHide the other 72 Pennsylvania colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 40 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 25 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 25 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 23 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 19 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 12 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 9 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 8 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Abington | Abington | Public | 7 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | Greensburg | Public | 7 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 6 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Public | 4 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| La Roche University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 3 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Altoona | Altoona | Public | 3 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Valley Forge Military College | Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Chestnut Hill College | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Holy Family University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Rosemont College | Rosemont | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | Public | 1 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 1 |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Public | 1 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most History degrees?+
Gettysburg College (242 graduates a year), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (97 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania State University (69 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 82 Pennsylvania colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's History programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,555, College Scorecard. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Gettysburg College is the largest, with 242 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $48,555. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Historians in Pennsylvania is $78,210 (median $71,970), across about 70 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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