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Most Popular History Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular History Schools in California

181 Colleges
$27,322 Avg Salary
$18,158 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best History School for You

With 5,392 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, history is the #21 most popular major in California.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Most Popular History Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 181 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the History program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular History Colleges.

Our analysis found University of California - Los Angeles to be the most popular school for history students who want to pursue a degree in California. UCLA is a fairly large public school located in the city of Los Angeles.

History majors at UCLA take out an average of $14,200 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $241, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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The excellent programs at California State University - Long Beach helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best history schools in California. CSULB is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach.

On average, history graduates from CSULB take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full History at California State University - Long Beach Report

Out of the 181 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the # 3 spot on the list. UCSB is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at UCSB take out is $18,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $255, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of California - Berkeley is a great place for history students. UC Berkeley is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley.

After completing their degree, history graduates from UC Berkeley carry an average student debt load of $14,456. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $526.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

While working on their degree, history majors at Cal State Fullerton accumulate an average of around $15,401 in student debt.

Full History at California State University - Fullerton Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means California State University - Sacramento is a great place for history students. Located in the large city of Sacramento, Sac State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, history graduates from Sac State carry an average student debt load of $20,000.

Read full report on History at California State University - Sacramento

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in California ranking. Located in the small city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, history graduates from UC Santa Cruz take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $288.

Read full report on History at University of California - Santa Cruz

University of California - Riverside ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in California list. UCR is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Riverside.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at UCR take out is $20,720. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $87.

Read full report on History at University of California - Riverside

University of California - Davis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #9 on the list. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Davis.

On average, history graduates from UC Davis take out $14,916 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on History at University of California - Davis

California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular history programs. Located in the city of Northridge, CSUN is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, history graduates from CSUN carry an average student debt load of $12,921.

Read full report on History at California State University - Northridge

University of California - Irvine did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #11 on the list. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Irvine.

While working on their degree, history majors at UC Irvine accumulate an average of around $16,700 in student debt.

Full History at University of California - Irvine Report

#11

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

With a ranking of #11, San Francisco State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for history students. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at SFSU take out is $15,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $203.

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California State University - Los Angeles ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, history graduates from Cal State LA take out $17,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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University of Southern California ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in California list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

On average, history graduates from USC take out $12,500 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $709.

Read full report on History at University of Southern California

California State University - Fresno did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno State is a public college with a very large student population.

History majors at Fresno State take out an average of $18,245 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on History at California State University - Fresno

#16

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

San Diego State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at SDSU take out is $14,998.

Full History at San Diego State University Report

University of California - San Diego came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at UCSD take out is $19,000.

Read full report on History at University of California - San Diego

#18

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in California list. Bakersfield College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bakersfield.

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With a ranking of #19, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for history students. Located in the midsize city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, history graduates from CSUSB carry an average student debt load of $13,416.

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California State University - San Marcos landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular history programs. Located in the large suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, history majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $16,956 in student debt.

Read full report on History at California State University - San Marcos

California State University - Chico came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in California ranking. Chico State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Chico.

While working on their degree, history majors at Chico State accumulate an average of around $23,387 in student debt.

Read full report on History at California State University - Chico

With a ranking of #22, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for history students. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at Cal Poly Pomona take out is $17,000.

Read full report on History at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in California list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.

On average, history graduates from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out $17,003 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $281, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full History at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report

#24

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

Stanford University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular history programs. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Full History at Stanford University Report

#25

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA

Mt. San Antonio College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in California ranking. Mt. SAC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Walnut.

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Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for History students in the state of California that almost earned our Most Popular History Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
28 The University of Arizona Global Campus San Diego, CA
29 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA
29 Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
31 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
32 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
32 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
34 Sierra College Rocklin, CA
34 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
36 Mt. San Jacinto College San Jacinto, CA

Best History Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular History Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 475
Oregon 342
Hawaii 68
Nevada 109
Alaska 41

History Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
History 32,731

Related Major Annual Graduates
Education 327,871
Social Sciences 205,984
Psychology 195,678
Communication & Journalism 120,571
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences 55,820

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Abraham Ortelius.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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