Best institutions to study Public/Applied History
A program that focuses on the application of history and administrative skills to the recording of public events and the management of related historical resources.
51 U.S. institutions graduated 892 Public/Applied History students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 54.0105, a specialization of History (CIP 54.01), and leads most directly to the Historians occupation (BLS SOC 19-3093).
About Public/Applied History programs
A program that focuses on the application of history and administrative skills to the recording of public events and the management of related historical resources. Includes instruction in historical research methods, the planning and administration of public history projects, and applications to specific problems in public organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other facilities.
See also: 30.1202 - Cultural Resource Management and Policy Analysis., 25.0103 - Archives/Archival Administration.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Public/Applied History program focuses on the practical application of historical knowledge and administrative skills to manage public events and historical resources. It is designed for students interested in working within public organizations, government agencies, and cultural institutions. This program emphasizes the importance of historical context in contemporary society and prepares graduates for various roles in the field of history.
Students in this program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework includes historical research methods, project planning, and administration, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to interpret and present historical data effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Public/Applied History graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year607 graduates / yr · 8 institutions68%
- Master's degree101 graduates / yr · 16 institutions11%
- Associate's degree77 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate49 graduates / yr · 16 institutions5.5%
- Bachelor's degree46 graduates / yr · 14 institutions5.2%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years7 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
Graduates over time
Public/Applied History completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 253 |
| 2013 | 248 |
| 2014 | 229 |
| 2015 | 240 |
| 2016 | 156 |
| 2017 | 177 |
| 2018 | 210 |
| 2019 | 231 |
| 2020 | 228 |
| 2021 | 225 |
| 2022 | 273 |
| 2023 | 295 |
| 2024 | 731 |
| 2025 | 892 |
Top 50 institutions for Public/Applied 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 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 663 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KYPublicMaster's | 13 | 52% | — | $29,619 |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 65% | $28,911 | $33,456 |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | 85% | — | $33,251 |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 11 | 58% | — | $27,087 |
| 6 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NYPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 11 | 41% | — | — |
| 7 | The University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsPost-degree cert. | 10 | 48% | — | $28,508 |
| 8 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicMaster's | 9 | 52% | — | $32,577 |
| 9 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 64% | — | $30,226 |
| 10 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 77% | $32,060 | $29,451 |
| 11 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 56% | — | $32,976 |
| 12 | University of North Alabama Florence, ALPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 7 | 55% | — | $27,927 |
| 13 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 73% | $33,454 | $31,079 |
| 14 | Salem State University Salem, MAPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 7 | 50% | — | $29,307 |
| 15 | College of Staten Island CUNY Staten Island, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 34% | — | — |
| 16 | St. Mary's University San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 59% | $21,285 | — |
| 17 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 83% | — | $26,805 |
| 18 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicBachelor's | 5 | 59% | — | $33,000 |
| 19 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MOPublicMaster's | 5 | 58% | — | — |
| 20 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CAPublicBachelor's | 4 | 55% | — | $24,077 |
| 21 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicMaster's | 4 | 56% | — | $32,596 |
| 22 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CTPublicMaster's | 4 | 48% | — | $30,301 |
| 23 | Nazareth University Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 73% | $27,945 | $37,677 |
| 24 | Siena University Loudonville, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 75% | $30,138 | $29,134 |
| 25 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 66% | $27,359 | — |
| 26 | Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 67% | $25,104 | $31,163 |
| 27 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 64% | — | $28,121 |
| 28 | Flagler College Saint Augustine, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 56% | $28,070 | — |
| 29 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MSPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 49% | — | $30,684 |
| 30 | Cairn University - Langhorne Langhorne, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 60% | $28,320 | — |
| 31 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicMaster's | 3 | 79% | — | $27,652 |
| 32 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 53% | — | $27,799 |
| 33 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicDoctoral | 3 | 54% | — | $35,391 |
| 34 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 65% | — | $28,277 |
| 35 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 63% | — | $29,794 |
| 36 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicMaster's | 2 | 58% | — | $41,874 |
| 37 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 67% | — | $35,150 |
| 38 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 75% | $25,675 | — |
| 39 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 69% | $21,124 | — |
| 40 | York College of Pennsylvania York, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 64% | $18,682 | — |
| 41 | Rhode Island College Providence, RIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 48% | — | $31,981 |
| 42 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 86% | — | $33,319 |
| 43 | University of West Georgia Carrollton, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 43% | — | $35,074 |
| 44 | Anderson University Anderson, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 54% | $21,789 | — |
| 45 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 61% | — | $22,047 |
| 46 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, NDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 60% | — | — |
| 47 | Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 67% | $18,312 | — |
| 48 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 43% | — | $27,711 |
| 49 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 66% | — | $34,682 |
| 50 | Belmont University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 71% | $29,246 | — |
* 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 27 states
Where Public/Applied History graduates come from. Each state links to all History programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3093, Historians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Public/Applied History program can pursue careers as historians, museum technicians, curators, and history teachers. The job outlook for these roles is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.2% and approximately 300 annual openings. The median wage for historians is $74,050, with a typical education requirement of a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 54.0105
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 |
Museum Technicians and Conservators SOC 25-4013 | $51,440 | +5.4% Faster than average | ~1,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Curators SOC 25-4012 | $63,420 | +7.0% Faster than average | ~1,800 | Master's degree |
History Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1125 | $83,820 | -0.2% Little or no change | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional 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 Public/Applied 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
- HistoryCIP 54.0199542 graduates / yr44 institutions
- Military HistoryCIP 54.0108287 graduates / yr11 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 is Public/Applied History?+
It is a program that applies historical knowledge and skills to manage public events and historical resources.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in research, writing, critical thinking, and project management.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a historian, museum technician, curator, or history teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.2% and around 300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Public/Applied History?+
Public/Applied History is CIP 54.0105 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 application of history and administrative skills to the recording of public events and the management of related historical resources. Includes instruction in historical research methods, the planning and administration of public history projects, and applications to specific problems in public organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other facilities.
How many institutions offer Public/Applied History programs?+
51 U.S. institutions reported Public/Applied History graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 27 states, awarding 892 credentials in the year. That is 3.1% of all History graduates.
How much do Public/Applied History graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Historians occupation, which Public/Applied 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 $30,684 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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