2026 Best Historic Preservation Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Historic Preservation master’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 80 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Historic Preservation Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Columbia University In The City Of New York to be the best Historic Preservation school in the United States. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Historic Preservation students take on a median of $23,258 in debt. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern California one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Boston University came in at #3 on this year's Historic Preservation ranking in the United States. Set in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. The median Historic Preservation program debt is $25,232. Read more about Boston University
Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on this year's Historic Preservation ranking in the United States. Based in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Johns Hopkins University Historic Preservation students take on a median of $13,426 in debt. More on Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #5 makes College Of Charleston one of the top choices in the United States. College Of Charleston is a public school based in Charleston, SC. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. See the full College Of Charleston profile
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Savannah, GA. About 69% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,630. Students borrow a median of $26,346 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. Read the full report on Savannah College Of Art And Design
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. The University Of Texas At Austin Historic Preservation students take on a median of $21,275 in debt. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Set in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. University Of Colorado Denver graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. Get the full University Of Colorado Denver report
Clemson University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Typical Historic Preservation student debt is $23,783. More on Clemson University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #10 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. Based in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
University Of Vermont ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Set in Burlington, VT, University Of Vermont is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. See the full University Of Vermont profile
Saint Cloud State University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. More on Saint Cloud State University
University Of Florida did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical Historic Preservation student debt is $17,669. Get the full University Of Florida report
University Of Kentucky ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Set in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Typical Historic Preservation student debt is $24,094. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
University Of Georgia ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Based in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
University Of Delaware placed #16 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. This public school is set in Newark, DE. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Typical Historic Preservation student debt is $24,861. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
University Of Oregon did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Eugene, OR. About 72% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. The median Historic Preservation program debt is $22,034. Read the full report on University Of Oregon
Eastern Michigan University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Eastern Michigan University graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,990. Typical Historic Preservation student debt is $28,781. More on Eastern Michigan University
Plymouth State University landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Set in Plymouth, NH, Plymouth State University is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, compared with $25,566 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,972 to complete their Historic Preservation program here. See the full Plymouth State University profile
Goucher College
Goucher College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. See the full Goucher College profile
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Get the full Virginia Commonwealth University report
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Get the full Southeast Missouri State University report
Villa Maria College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Get the full Villa Maria College report
University Of Utah came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Utah report
Mississippi State University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Mississippi State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Historic Preservation Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
The University Of Montana came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Montana
Brown University
Brown University placed #27 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. Read more about Brown University
University Of Arizona did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full University Of Arizona profile
Coastal Carolina University did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Coastal Carolina University
Youngstown State University did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Youngstown State University
Ball State University came in at #31 in this year's ranking. See the full Ball State University profile
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #32 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Iowa State University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Iowa State University
Central Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on Central Connecticut State University
Texas Tech University placed #35 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Texas Tech University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Read more about University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Southern Oregon University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Get the full Southern Oregon University report
Temple University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Temple University
California State University San Bernardino landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on California State University San Bernardino
East Tennessee State University placed #40 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. More on East Tennessee State University
University Of Evansville landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Evansville
Harvard University came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full Harvard University report
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #43 in this year's ranking. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus placed #44 among Historic Preservation schools in the United States. Read more about Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. Get the full School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago report
Roger Williams University landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Roger Williams University
Clayton State University did well this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Clayton State University report
Adams State College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Historic Preservation schools. More on Adams State College
University Of Alabama At Birmingham did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Related Historic Preservation Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Historic Preservation Schools (All Levels)
- Best Historic Preservation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Historic Preservation Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Historic Preservation Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Historic Preservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Historic Preservation Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Historic Preservation Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 80 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).