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History & Archaeology

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

History majors study the past through primary sources—letters, documents, artifacts, oral histories—and learn to construct evidence-based arguments. Coursework spans different regions and time periods, with electives in everything from ancient Rome to modern China. Archaeology adds fieldwork at dig sites and lab work analyzing artifacts.

Both majors are writing-intensive: expect long research papers and a senior thesis. Languages are often required, especially for certain regions or periods.

What you'll do after college

History grads go into law, journalism, education, government, museums, libraries, business, consulting, and graduate school. Archaeology grads work at museums, cultural resource management firms, government agencies, and academic institutions.

The major teaches research, writing, and analytical thinking that transfer to many careers. Direct historical work tends to be modestly paid, but the broader career options—especially law and consulting—pay well.

Famous graduates

  • Theodore Roosevelt — 26th U.S. President; B.A. in History from Harvard University
  • Conan O'Brien — Comedian and late-night host; B.A. in History and Literature from Harvard University
  • Steve Carell — Actor and comedian; B.A. in History from Denison University

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$51,269
736
100–85%
$47,762
1,499
85–75%
$52,768
2,232
75–72%
$49,058
2,981
72–55%
$53,144
2,980
55–45%
$53,031
2,264
45–26%
$60,555
1,440
25–9%
$73,687
761
9–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

By SAT median

$49,232
551
400–1025
$48,573
1,119
1025–1090
$51,318
1,661
1090–1150
$51,611
2,219
1150–1235
$53,950
2,218
1239–1325
$56,462
1,666
1325–1415
$62,548
1,125
1415–1510
$78,938
550
1515–1600
Median SAT · bar = degree-weighted adjusted 5-year earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl 5yr Earn
History & Archaeology 1,102 20,001 59% / 41% 1% $52,443
History 1,086 18,785 60% / 40% 1% $52,478
Classics 88 271 42% / 58% 3% $47,074
Archaeology 33 182 30% / 70% 5% $44,176
Classical Studies 28 85 31% / 69% 2% $46,084
Ancient Studies/Civilization 15 62 39% / 61% 0% $57,138
History of Science 3 62 31% / 69% 2% $61,164
Historical Studies 2 54 69% / 31% 0% $47,058
History and Administrative Studies 2 51 39% / 61% 0% $48,740
Maritime Studies 5 49 45% / 55% 6%
History and Political Science 12 36 69% / 31% 3%
Public/Applied History 14 31 39% / 61% 0% $46,296
History and Literature 1 30 20% / 80% 7% $87,051
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology 6 29 52% / 48% 10% $62,482
Historic Preservation 2 28 43% / 57% 0% $44,122
Ancient History 1 23 39% / 61% 4% $86,757
Military History 3 21 86% / 14% 0% $58,016
Medieval and Renaissance Studies 20 20 35% / 65% 5%
Economics and History 1 17 71% / 29% 0% $94,825
Museology/Museum Studies 5 15 20% / 80% 0%
Classical Civilization 4 15 40% / 60% 13%
Ancient Greek and Roman Studies 1 14 21% / 79% 0%
Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology 4 12 42% / 58% 8%
History, Technology, and Society 1 11 45% / 55% 0%
Museum Studies 1 11 9% / 91% 0%
Ancient Studies 9 10 20% / 80% 0%
Public and Oral History 1 8 25% / 75% 0% $45,421
European History 4 7 43% / 57% 0% $57,464
Medieval Studies 3 7 57% / 43% 0%
Geoarcheaology 2 7 43% / 57% 0%
Holocaust and Related Studies 1 7 29% / 71% 0%
Public History 3 6 17% / 83% 0% $49,213
Applied History 1 4 50% / 50% 0% $47,101
History of Science, Medicine, and Technology 1 4 50% / 50% 0%
Classical and Ancient Studies 4 3 33% / 67% 0%
Archaeological Studies 1 3 33% / 67% 0%
Archaeology and the Ancient World 1 3 33% / 67% 0%
American History 4 2 100% / 0% 0%
American History (United States) 1 2 50% / 50% 0% $57,464
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations 1 2 50% / 50% 0%
Archeology 1 2 100% / 0% 0%
Classical Civilizations 1 2 100% / 0% 0%
Classical Humanities 1 2 0% / 100% 0%
Classical and Mediterranean Studies 1 2 100% / 0% 0%
History Studies 1 2 50% / 50% 0%
History and Language/Literature 1 2 0% / 100% 0%