Wisconsin · History

Best colleges for History in Wisconsin

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay are the top bachelor's History programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,807, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire award the most History degrees in Wisconsin: 238, 49 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Wisconsin colleges offer History and award 548 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…

Institutions
25
offering CIP 54.01
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
548
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$32,259
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
10
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,627
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
61%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Historians
$53,030
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,8072859%—$27,000
2University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,95923890%—$20,909
3University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,9302848%—$27,000
4University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,2014949%—$26,000
5University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,9983964%—$23,112
6Marquette University
Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$36,9071983%$25,376$19,500
7University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$35,9471351%—$23,310
8University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$32,2591146%—$21,906
9University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$28,0131171%—$26,924
10Ripon College
Ripon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,4211063%$19,267$26,838

Colleges awarding the most History degrees in Wisconsin

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison Public
238$35,959
2University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public
49$32,201
3University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire Public
39$28,998
4University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater Public
28$40,807
5University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay Public
28$32,930
6Marquette University
Milwaukee Private not-for-profit
19$36,907
7University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls Public
17Not reported
8Carthage College
Kenosha Private not-for-profit
16Not reported
9Lawrence University
Appleton Private not-for-profit
15Not reported
10Saint Norbert College
De Pere Private not-for-profit
15Not reported
Show the other 15 Wisconsin colleges offering History
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens PointPublic13
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa CrossePublic11
University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkoshPublic11
Ripon CollegeRiponPrivate not-for-profit10
University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperiorPublic9
Edgewood UniversityMadisonPrivate not-for-profit5
University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenoshaPublic5
University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlattevillePublic5
Carroll UniversityWaukeshaPrivate not-for-profit4
Beloit CollegeBeloitPrivate not-for-profit3
Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertownPrivate not-for-profit2
Marian UniversityFond Du LacPrivate not-for-profit2
Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMilwaukeePrivate not-for-profit2
Concordia University - WisconsinMequonPrivate not-for-profit1
Lakeland UniversityPlymouthPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Historians (SOC 19-3093).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.2%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$74,050
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningActive Learning

What Historians earn in Wisconsin

Jobs in Wisconsin
50
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$53,030
median $45,810
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

History Teachers, Postsecondary
$91,910 avg · 370 jobs
Curators
$70,980 avg · 300 jobs
Archivists
$59,180 avg · 220 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing History programs in Wisconsin.

Which Wisconsin colleges award the most History degrees?+

University of Wisconsin-Madison (238 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (49 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (39 graduates a year) award the most History degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Wisconsin colleges offer History.

What is the best college for History in Wisconsin?+

By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater leads among bachelor's History programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,807, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest, with 238 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which History program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater tops the list at $40,807. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Historians earn in Wisconsin?+

The average annual wage for Historians in Wisconsin is $53,030 (median $45,810), across about 50 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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