Best institutions to study Historic Preservation and Conservation
A program that focuses on the design and implementation of plans to restore and maintain historic buildings, districts, and landscapes in a way that balances conservation and preservation with commercial and development interests.
44 U.S. institutions graduated 355 Historic Preservation and Conservation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 30.1201, a specialization of Historic Preservation and Conservation (CIP 30.12), and leads most directly to the Historians occupation (BLS SOC 19-3093).
About Historic Preservation and Conservation programs
A program that focuses on the design and implementation of plans to restore and maintain historic buildings, districts, and landscapes in a way that balances conservation and preservation with commercial and development interests. Includes instruction in architectural history, building conservation, cultural resource management, economics, historical documentation and preservation, land-use and zoning codes, public policy, public relations, real estate law, and taxation.
See also: 04.0802 - Architectural Conservation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Historic Preservation and Conservation program focuses on the design and implementation of plans to restore and maintain historic buildings, districts, and landscapes. This interdisciplinary field balances conservation and preservation with commercial and development interests, making it ideal for students passionate about history, architecture, and cultural heritage.
Students in this program gain knowledge in architectural history, building conservation, cultural resource management, and public policy. Coursework emphasizes critical skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking, preparing graduates for various roles in the preservation field.
Credentials awarded
What Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree165 graduates / yr · 26 institutions47%
- Bachelor's degree76 graduates / yr · 8 institutions21%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year55 graduates / yr · 7 institutions16%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate43 graduates / yr · 14 institutions12%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years6 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.7%
- Post-master's certificate5 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.4%
- Associate's degree3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
Graduates over time
Historic Preservation and Conservation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 404 |
| 2013 | 396 |
| 2014 | 382 |
| 2015 | 331 |
| 2016 | 369 |
| 2017 | 383 |
| 2018 | 359 |
| 2019 | 364 |
| 2020 | 332 |
| 2021 | 325 |
| 2022 | 285 |
| 2023 | 328 |
| 2024 | 373 |
| 2025 | 355 |
Top 44 institutions for Historic Preservation and Conservation, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert.Master's | 32 | 71% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 66% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 22 | 81% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 21 | 90% | — | — |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 6 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 69% | — | — |
| 7 | College of Charleston Charleston, SCPublicBachelor's | 13 | 66% | — | $35,326 |
| 8 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 12 | 62% | — | — |
| 9 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 10 | 86% | $33,106 | — |
| 10 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 74% | $49,088 | — |
| 11 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 10 | 87% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicMaster's | 9 | 89% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsPost-degree cert. | 9 | 75% | — | — |
| 14 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 9 | 69% | $34,648 | — |
| 15 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MIPublicMaster's | 8 | 46% | — | — |
| 16 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 17 | Salve Regina University Newport, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 77% | $31,899 | — |
| 18 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 84% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 7 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 20 | Clayton State University Morrow, GAPublicMaster's | 7 | 40% | — | — |
| 21 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MSPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 7 | 67% | — | — |
| 22 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 6 | 69% | $44,902 | — |
| 23 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 24 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MOPublicBachelor's | 6 | 58% | — | — |
| 25 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 56% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 95% | $19,452 | — |
| 27 | Villa Maria College Buffalo, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 31% | $14,260 | — |
| 28 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicMaster's | 5 | 79% | — | — |
| 29 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 5 | 86% | — | — |
| 30 | Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico Hato Rey, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 28% | $18,544 | — |
| 31 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicMaster's | 4 | 46% | — | — |
| 32 | Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 33 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicPost-degree cert.Master'sDoctoral | 4 | 89% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 35 | University of New Orleans New Orleans, LAPublicMaster's | 3 | 38% | — | — |
| 36 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 37 | Belmont College St Clairsville, OHPublicAssociate's | 3 | 43% | — | — |
| 38 | Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 67% | $18,312 | — |
| 39 | Bucks County Community College Newtown, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 32% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster's | 2 | 91% | — | — |
| 41 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 67% | $48,998 | — |
| 42 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 83% | — | — |
| 43 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 55% | — | — |
| 44 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicMaster's | 1 | 72% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Historic Preservation and Conservation field (CIP 30.12) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 25 states & territories
Where Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates come from. Each state links to all Historic Preservation and Conservation programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3093, Historians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Historic Preservation and Conservation program can pursue careers as historians, archivists, or facilities managers, among others. The job outlook is stable, with an expected growth rate of 2.2% and about 300 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is approximately $74,050, typically requiring a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 30.1201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Historiansprimary SOC 19-3093 | $76,750 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Facilities Managers SOC 11-3013 | $106,660 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~13,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Archivists SOC 25-4011 | $64,550 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Historic Preservation and Conservation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Tools and technology used
Other Historic Preservation and Conservation specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Historic Preservation and Conservation (CIP 30.12).
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers a Master's degree, Bachelor's degree, postbaccalaureate certificate, and short-term awards.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and historical research.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a historian, archivist, or facilities manager, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.2%.
What is the CIP code for Historic Preservation and Conservation?+
Historic Preservation and Conservation is CIP 30.1201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Historic Preservation and Conservation (CIP 30.12). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the design and implementation of plans to restore and maintain historic buildings, districts, and landscapes in a way that balances conservation and preservation with commercial and development interests. Includes instruction in architectural history, building conservation, cultural resource management, economics, historical documentation and preservation, land-use and zoning codes, public policy, public relations, real estate law, and taxation.
How many institutions offer Historic Preservation and Conservation programs?+
44 U.S. institutions reported Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states & territories, awarding 355 credentials in the year. That is 82.2% of all Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates.
How much do Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Historians occupation, which Historic Preservation and Conservation most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Historic Preservation and Conservation field report median earnings of $35,326 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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