Best colleges for History in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia Military Institute and Old Dominion University are the top bachelor's History programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Hampden-Sydney College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,949, College Scorecard. Liberty University, William & Mary and University of Virginia award the most History degrees in Virginia: 628, 140 and 113 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Virginia colleges offer History and award 1,527 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 10 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 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,949 | 25 | 62% | $21,034 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,543 | 40 | 76% | — | $19,500 |
| 3 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,733 | 48 | 46% | — | $24,875 |
| 4 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,028 | 113 | 96% | — | $19,352 |
| 5 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,456 | 628 | 65% | $28,911 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,319 | 38 | 86% | — | $20,499 |
| 7 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,595 | 140 | 89% | — | $17,750 |
| 8 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,794 | 69 | 63% | — | $23,750 |
| 9 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,386 | 28 | 72% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,000 | 70 | 80% | — | $20,500 |
Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Virginia
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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 628 | $33,456 |
| 2 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 140 | $31,595 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 113 | $34,028 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 100 | $25,992 |
| 5 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 70 | $29,000 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 69 | $29,794 |
| 7 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 48 | $36,733 |
| 8 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public | 40 | $42,543 |
| 9 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 38 | $33,319 |
| 10 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 28 | $29,386 |
ShowHide the other 30 Virginia colleges offering History
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 21 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 18 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 14 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 8 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 7 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise | Public | 6 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Patrick Henry College | Purcellville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).
Top skills
What Historians earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing History programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most History degrees?+
Liberty University (628 graduates a year), William & Mary (140 graduates a year) and University of Virginia (113 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Virginia colleges offer History.
What is the best college for History in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Hampden-Sydney College leads among bachelor's History programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,949, College Scorecard. Virginia Military Institute and Old Dominion University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 628 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which History program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Hampden-Sydney College tops the list at $42,949. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Historians earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Historians in Virginia is $107,970 (median $101,920), across about 180 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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