Best colleges for History in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University are the top bachelor's History programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Vanderbilt University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,856, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University and East Tennessee State University award the most History degrees in Tennessee: 79, 58 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Tennessee colleges offer History and award 445 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 9 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 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,856 | 40 | 94% | $14,854 | $15,000 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,391 | 58 | 54% | — | $18,500 |
| 3 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,456 | 28 | 40% | — | $19,750 |
| 4 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,652 | 38 | 51% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,713 | 79 | 74% | — | $19,000 |
| 6 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,799 | 48 | 53% | — | $20,500 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,952 | 22 | 50% | — | — |
| 8 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,279 | 9 | 85% | $19,854 | $23,104 |
| 9 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,659 | 15 | 58% | — | $17,194 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Tennessee
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 79 | $28,713 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 58 | $35,391 |
| 3 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 48 | $27,799 |
| 4 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 40 | $46,856 |
| 5 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 38 | $30,652 |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 28 | $34,456 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 22 | $26,952 |
| 8 | The University of the South Sewanee Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 9 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 15 | $24,659 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 22 Tennessee colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodes College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Public | 6 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Welch College | Gallatin | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lane College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most History degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (79 graduates a year), Middle Tennessee State University (58 graduates a year) and East Tennessee State University (48 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Tennessee colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Vanderbilt University leads among bachelor's History programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,856, College Scorecard. Middle Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Vanderbilt University tops the list at $46,856. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Historians in Tennessee is $71,860 (median $71,080), across about 40 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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