Best institutions to study Historic Preservation and Conservation
Any instructional program that focuses on architectural design and building techniques for historic and restored structures not listed above.
5 U.S. institutions graduated 18 Historic Preservation and Conservation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 30.1299, 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
Any instructional program that focuses on architectural design and building techniques for historic and restored structures not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Historic Preservation and Conservation program focuses on the architectural design and building techniques essential for the preservation and restoration of historic structures. This interdisciplinary field is ideal for students passionate about history, architecture, and cultural heritage, providing them with the skills to protect and maintain significant sites and materials.
Students will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes historical research methods, data analysis, and the preparation of publications and exhibits to ensure historical accuracy and significance.
Credentials awarded
What Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree7 graduates / yr · 1 institution39%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 1 institution28%
- Associate's degree3 graduates / yr · 1 institution17%
- Bachelor's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
Graduates over time
Historic Preservation and Conservation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 18 |
Top 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster's | 7 | 85% | — |
| 2 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 68% | — |
| 3 | Salish Kootenai College Pablo, MTPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 4 | 28% | — |
| 4 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicDoctoral | 1 | 81% | — |
| 5 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 51% | — |
Offered in 5 states
Where Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates come from. Each state links to all Historic Preservation and Conservation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | 7 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities7 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 5 | University of Arizona5 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 4 | Salish Kootenai College4 / yr |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 | University of Delaware1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Cleveland State University1 / yr |
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. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 2.2% and around 300 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is approximately $74,050, with a typical education level of a Master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 30.1299
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?+
Degrees include Master's degrees, Postbaccalaureate certificates, Associate's degrees, and Bachelor's degrees.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 5 colleges offering the Historic Preservation and Conservation program in the U.S.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will gain skills in critical thinking, writing, active listening, and historical research.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a historian, archivist, or facilities manager, among other roles.
What is the CIP code for Historic Preservation and Conservation?+
Historic Preservation and Conservation is CIP 30.1299 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: Any instructional program that focuses on architectural design and building techniques for historic and restored structures not listed above.
How many institutions offer Historic Preservation and Conservation programs?+
5 U.S. institutions reported Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 18 credentials in the year. That is 4.2% 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).
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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