2026 Best History Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best History graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1480 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 History Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
American Public University System tops our 2026 ranking of the best History graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. American Public University System is a private for-profit school based in Charles Town, WV. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,160 to complete their History program here. See the full American Public University System profile
The strong History programs at New York University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. The median History program debt is $19,000. More on New York University
You'll be in good company at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #3 this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public school based in Mankato, MN. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical History student debt is $27,000. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Mankato
You'll be in good company at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. The median History program debt is $20,499. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
You'll be in good company at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #5 this year. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. The median History program debt is $22,000. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
Sam Houston State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Based in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete their History program here. See the full Sam Houston State University profile
University Of Utah ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. University Of Utah posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Typical History student debt is $22,250. More on University Of Utah
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public school based in Arlington, TX. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. See the full The University Of Texas At Arlington profile
George Mason University landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Based in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. George Mason University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. The median History program debt is $24,625. Read more about George Mason University
Syracuse University landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Located in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their History program here. See the full Syracuse University profile
Suny Empire State College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Students borrow a median of $30,992 to complete their History program here. Read more about Suny Empire State College
Auburn University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete their History program here. See the full Auburn University profile
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public school based in Richmond, VA. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Based in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. The median History program debt is $28,738. Read the full report on University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of Louisville landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Set in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. University Of Louisville posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Graduates carry a median of $23,312 in student loans. Get the full University Of Louisville report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. The median History program debt is $24,750. See the full University Of North Carolina At Greensboro profile
University Of West Georgia placed #17 among History schools in the United States. This public school is set in Carrollton, GA. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,990 to complete their History program here. Get the full University Of West Georgia report
Liberty University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their History program here. More on Liberty University
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in El Paso, TX. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Typical History student debt is $25,125. More on The University Of Texas At El Paso
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical History student debt is $17,250. Read the full report on Florida International University
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their History program here. Read more about Ohio University Main Campus
University Of North Alabama landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Located in Florence, AL, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. University Of North Alabama posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Typical History student debt is $19,350. Read the full report on University Of North Alabama
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #23 among History schools in the United States. This public school is set in Bowling Green, OH. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical History student debt is $24,063. Read the full report on Bowling Green State University Main Campus
University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Based in Hattiesburg, MS, University Of Southern Mississippi is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. University Of Southern Mississippi History students take on a median of $25,455 in debt. See the full University Of Southern Mississippi profile
Wayne State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Located in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical History student debt is $32,544. See the full Wayne State University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best History Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Central Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #26 position. Set in New Britain, CT, Central Connecticut State University is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. The median History program debt is $23,604. Read the full report on Central Connecticut State University
East Tennessee State University placed #27 among History schools in the United States. Set in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. East Tennessee State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their History program here. More on East Tennessee State University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst did well this year, earning the #28 position. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school based in Amherst, MA. University Of Massachusetts Amherst posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete their History program here. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public school based in Staten Island, NY. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. The median History program debt is $12,648. Get the full Cuny College Of Staten Island report
Marshall University placed #30 among History schools in the United States. Based in Huntington, WV, Marshall University is a public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Marshall University History students take on a median of $20,100 in debt. See the full Marshall University profile
Adelphi University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Adelphi University report
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full Bunker Hill Community College profile
Duquesne University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Read the full report on Duquesne University
Harding University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Read the full report on Harding University
Mesa Community College placed #35 among History schools in the United States. More on Mesa Community College
Saint Peters College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Saint Peters College
Santa Barbara City College did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Santa Barbara City College profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Suny College At Potsdam placed #39 among History schools in the United States. Get the full Suny College At Potsdam report
University Of South Carolina Aiken did well this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full University Of South Carolina Aiken report
Valparaiso University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. See the full Valparaiso University profile
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #42 position. See the full East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania profile
Mount Marty College placed #43 among History schools in the United States. See the full Mount Marty College profile
Southern Nazarene University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Southern Nazarene University
Suny At Purchase College did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on Suny At Purchase College
The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read more about The University Of Tennessee Martin
Grove City College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Grove City College
Johnson C Smith University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best History schools. Read the full report on Johnson C Smith University
Rowan University
Rowan University landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on Rowan University
San Francisco State University did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
Related History Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best History Schools (All Levels)
- Best History Certificate Degree Schools
- Best History Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best History Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best History Master’s Degree Schools
- Best History Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1480 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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