Best institutions to study Military History
A program that focuses on the study of the history of warfare and military institutions in their operational, politico-economic and socio-cultural contexts; including airpower history, naval history, and military history.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 287 Military History students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 54.0108, a specialization of History (CIP 54.01), and leads most directly to the Historians occupation (BLS SOC 19-3093).
About Military History programs
A program that focuses on the study of the history of warfare and military institutions in their operational, politico-economic and socio-cultural contexts; including airpower history, naval history, and military history. Includes instruction in military organization, military operations, the history of technology, leadership and biography, military psychology and behavior, international relations and politics, economics, aspects of general and regional history, cultural history and anthropology, historiography, and applicable quantitative methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Military History program, a specialized branch of History, focuses on the study of warfare and military institutions within various contexts, including operational, politico-economic, and socio-cultural frameworks. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the complexities of military history, including airpower and naval history, and the evolution of military technology and leadership.
Students in the Military History program gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and research methodologies. Coursework covers a range of topics, including military organization, international relations, and historiography, equipping graduates with a comprehensive understanding of historical analysis and interpretation.
Credentials awarded
What Military History graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree132 graduates / yr · 4 institutions46%
- Bachelor's degree111 graduates / yr · 7 institutions39%
- Associate's degree26 graduates / yr · 2 institutions9.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate11 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.8%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.4%
Graduates over time
Military History completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 209 |
| 2013 | 242 |
| 2014 | 287 |
| 2015 | 254 |
| 2016 | 248 |
| 2017 | 232 |
| 2018 | 201 |
| 2019 | 252 |
| 2020 | 200 |
| 2021 | 208 |
| 2022 | 194 |
| 2023 | 200 |
| 2024 | 265 |
| 2025 | 287 |
Top 11 institutions for Military History, 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 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sAssociate'sPost-degree cert. | 111 | 57% | $10,199 | $35,198 |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sAssociate's | 86 | 65% | $28,911 | $33,456 |
| 3 | Norwich University Northfield, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 23 | 60% | $23,982 | $42,940 |
| 4 | United States Military Academy West Point, NYPublicBachelor's | 20 | 87% | — | — |
| 5 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SCPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 20 | 75% | — | $42,712 |
| 6 | Park University Parkville, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 7 | Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu, HIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 35% | $30,299 | — |
| 8 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 64% | — | — |
| 9 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 66% | $24,175 | — |
| 10 | Rogers State University Claremore, OKPublicBachelor's | 1 | 29% | — | — |
| 11 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 83% | $25,376 | $36,907 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader History field (CIP 54.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Military History graduates come from. Each state links to all History programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1 | 111 | American Public University System111 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 86 | Liberty University86 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 23 | Norwich University23 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 20 | United States Military Academy20 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 20 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina20 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 15 | Park University10 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 8 | Hawaii Pacific University8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Robert Morris University2 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | Rogers State University1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | Marquette University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3093, Historians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Military History program can pursue careers as historians, history teachers, or in various management roles. With an annual growth rate of 2.2% and approximately 300 job openings each year, the median wage for these positions is around $74,050, typically requiring a Master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 54.0108
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 |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
History Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1125 | $83,820 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional 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 Military History 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 History specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under History (CIP 54.01).
- HistoryCIP 54.010126,654 graduates / yr1,333 institutions
- Public/CIP 54.0105
Applied History 892 graduates / yr51 institutions - HistoryCIP 54.0199542 graduates / yr44 institutions
- American History (United States)CIP 54.0102partial data268 graduates / yr6 institutions
- History and Philosophy of Science and TechnologyCIP 54.0104207 graduates / yr19 institutions
- European HistoryCIP 54.0103partial data9 graduates / yr3 institutions
Show 2 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Asian History54.0106
- Canadian History54.0107
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Military History?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate in Military History.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You'll develop skills in critical thinking, writing, research, and active listening.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Military History?+
You can work as a historian, history teacher, or in various management positions.
What is the job outlook for Military History graduates?+
The job outlook is about average, with a growth rate of 2.2% and around 300 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Military History?+
Military History is CIP 54.0108 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within History (CIP 54.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the study of the history of warfare and military institutions in their operational, politico-economic and socio-cultural contexts; including airpower history, naval history, and military history. Includes instruction in military organization, military operations, the history of technology, leadership and biography, military psychology and behavior, international relations and politics, economics, aspects of general and regional history, cultural history and anthropology, historiography, and applicable quantitative methods.
How many institutions offer Military History programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Military History graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 287 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all History graduates.
How much do Military History graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Historians occupation, which Military History most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader History field report median earnings of $36,907 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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