Best Online Colleges for History Degree – February 2022
Many have heard George Santayana’s famous quote, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” and this still rings true today. Historians and museum curators regularly pull from the past to inform the future. Even lawyers draw on past legal precedents when making arguments in court. Earning a degree in history can help students to think critically and communicate more effectively while also preparing them to work in law, education, and government. They can also draw on different areas of history, including women and gender studies, African American history, and political history. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, historians can earn a median salary of $61,140, and the number of jobs for archivists, curators, and museum workers will grow by 13% by 2026.
All of the degree programs listed here can be finished online, giving students the flexibility to work full- or part-time while attending classes through distance learning. Many programs allow students to complete the work at their own pace. Some offer new classes every seven and a half weeks, meaning that students can earn their degree on an accelerated schedule. Those looking to work as a historian or a museum curator should look carefully at the schools that also offer a master’s history. This can either be online or through an accelerated pathway (or a combination of the two). For those looking to teach, some schools also offer gateways to certification in education.
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Featured Online Schools
ADVERTISEMENTBA – HISTORYSouthern New Hampshire University
Gain a rich foundation of knowledge ranging from early history to modern times with this online bachelor’s degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University. As a nonprofit, accredited institution, SNHU can help you become an expert in your field.Learn More
Visit SiteBS – HISTORYLiberty University Online
Students explore various periods of American, European, and Western history in LU’s BS in history. The 120-credit curriculum includes study of economic trends, politics, and war. The online program includes a three-credit capstone seminar and 36-39 free electives that students can choose to accomodate their interests.Learn More
Visit SiteONLINE BACHELOR’S IN HISTORYUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Learn to think critically and prepare for a future in politics, law, journalism or education with a history degree from UMGC. We offer online and hybrid courses, no-cost digital materials and dedicated student services.Learn More
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Methodology
Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the [title of article], from carefully researched data sets published from government and non-profit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees:
– 25% Student Satisfaction
– 30% Earning Potential
– 15% Retention Data
– 20% Affordability
– 10% Acceptance Rates
For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out our Methodology page.
#15 UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HISTORY
Score: 81.86
The University of Idaho offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science program in History, both of which prepare students to work in business, education, law, and other fields. The BA has two emphasis options: American History and European History. Howevwhile the BS requires more science courses. The BS requires at least 121 credits while the BA requires at least 124. The curriculum has a specialized capstone experience in which students take special topic seminars. Additionally, the University of Idaho grants in-state tuition to Idaho state residents, even if they are completing the coursework online.
Net Price: $14,997
#14 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HISTORY
Score: 83.11
Both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science in History at the University of North Alabama can be finished in four years. Both programs also require 120 credit hours of coursework, which includes a senior thesis. The BA, however, includes classes in a foreign language while students in the BS program have to add a minor or second major. Students in this program can also attend the History Graduate Student Association annual conference, and they can also submit to the North Alabama Historical Review, which is housed at UNA. Additionally, if students are looking to continue their studies in this field at UNA, they can enroll in the Master of Arts in History program.
Net Price: $12,103
#13 SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 83.74
Sam Houston State University offers a Bachelor of Arts in History program that is entirely online. The degree requires 120 credits of coursework, and students can start in the spring and the fall. While in this program, students can take courses like the Black Civil Rights Movement, Russian History, and Contemporary Latin America. It can usually be completed over eight semesters. Additionally, online students are eligible for scholarships, and transfer students can bring in credits from prior coursework. SHSU is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Net Price: $11,742
#12 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 84.15
Students can earn their Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. There, they learn not only about past events, but they also pick up skills in research and analysis. This program also requires a minor, giving students the chance to pick up knowledge in another area of interest. In total, 120 credits are required for graduation, and the program takes about four years to complete. Courses in this program include Louisiana History, Ancient Egyptian Religious Texts and Beliefs, and Contemporary History. Additionally, it is important to note that within 60 days of graduation, 90% of alumni of this program have jobs.
Net Price: $10,787
#11 UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 84.35
The University of Arizona has a Bachelor of Arts in History program. The program requires four semesters of a second language as part of the 120 credit hours needed for the degree. Other courses include the New American West, The Culture of Food and Health in Japan, and Economy and Society in Historical Discourse. Students can benefit from the expertise of faculty members at a Research I university. Publication opportunities are also available in Footnotes: A Journal of History and the Arizona Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. UA is also home to an accelerated Master of Arts program for undergraduate history students.
Net Price: $15,758
#10 NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 84.66
For those looking to study modern American, Europe, and Asia, Nicholls State University has a Bachelor of Arts in History program. This program requires 120 credit hours of coursework, and students must complete a minor while in the program. Minor options include Business Administration, English, Political Science, Geography, and Spanish, among others. During this program, students also grow their skills in computer literacy and oral communication. Classes are eight weeks in length, and students work on them at their convenience. NSU is also affiliated with the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
Net Price: $11,896
#9 UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 84.70
The University of Memphis offers a Bachelor of Arts in History that is one of 14 undergraduate degrees that can be completed entirely online. It requires 120 degree hours. Students must take a core of American and world history courses in addition to elective credits within the major and the liberal arts core curriculum. The classes are 14 weeks in length, and students pay a competitive eTuition rate. Students also have online access to student services, including the library and tutoring. Online students are also able to study abroad through the same programs offered to on-campus students. Additionally, they can benefit from the expertise of their faculty members, who, in particular, specialize in U.S. history, women, gender, and family, Asia, and medieval Europe.
Net Price: $13,663
#8 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE
Score: 85.45
Students at the University of North Dakota enjoy the flexibility of a curriculum tailored to their interests through the Bachelor of Arts in Social Science program. In this program, students can take courses in anthropology, economics, geography, political science, sociology, psychology in addition to their history classes. The many options in this program help students to grow their resume and experience in areas that they are interested in as preparation for full-time work or graduate school. They can also direct their study through focuses in Health and Human Services or Economic and Political Science Studies. There are also study abroad opportunities in Brazil, Belize, China, Chile, Spain, Ireland, and Mexico. The degree requires 120 credit hours for completion.
Net Price: $14,478
#7 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 85.74
The University of Illinois at Springfield has an online Bachelor of Arts in History. This program is structured so that students can experience an interactive, diverse, and flexible online community. Students can make progress toward their degrees at their own pace and on their time, allowing them to work while in school. In this program, students must finish three credit hours within the major, which includes courses like Topics in Warfare, Ancient Sport and Spectacle, and the Rise of Rome. Students also take courses to give them knowledge of religion, the Middle East, East Asia, the United States, and the world.
Net Price: $12,054
#6 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT LOWELL
BACHELOR OF LIBERAL ARTS WITH A CONCENTRATION IN HISTORY
Score: 87.49
Students can earn their Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a History concentration through the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. In this program, they can also add another concentration in Art History, English, Economics, Gender Studies, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, and Psychology. Students who have completed prior college coursework can transfer up to 90 credits into this program, and students online receive the same degree as those who take the classes on campus. Students must finish at least 36 credit hours in their major, and these courses have titles lie Human Sexuality, World War II, African-American History, and European Economics & Social History.
Net Price: $18,375
#5 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HISTORY
Score: 89.00
Students interested in researching the past to inform the future should consider the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor Science in History programs at Oregon State University. At OSU, students can take advantage of the research-based plans of study, which culminates in the Research Seminar, where the student puts together an original research project. Students can also get involved with the History Students Association and take part in the Public History Internship Program. The degrees both require 180 credits of study, and students can take courses like the Lesbian and Gay Movement in Modern America, Religion and Gender: A Global Perspective, and A Women’s History of Outer Space.
Net Price: $19,205
#4 EXCELSIOR COLLEGE
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HISTORY
Score: 89.25
Excelsior College posits that students in its Bachelor of Science in History program look at change over time. This program seeks to help them grow their critical thinking, communication, and writing skills while also considering a wide variety of cultures and perspectives. The degree requires 120 credit hours of coursework, 117 of which can be transferred in, though the median number of credits accepted is 68. Students in this program take courses in American, European, and world history, as well as history through the lens of race and other social identities. The curriculum culminates in a capstone course in which students bring together material that they have learned throughout their time at Excelsior.
Net Price: N/A
#3 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 90.29
The University of Central Florida offers a Bachelor of Arts in History that requires 120 credit hours of coursework for completion. In this program, students can also choose to focus their studies on a geographic area that interests them, including Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and others. UCF is also home to an accelerated program in which students can graduate with both their BA and the Master of Arts in History. The University of Central Florida has also been lauded by U.S. News and World Report, which has ranked it as No. 10 on its Most Innovative Schools list, as No. 10 on its Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans list, and as No. 14 on its Best Online Bachelor’s Programs lists.
Net Price: $15,341
#2 ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
Score: 93.10
Students can earn their Bachelor of Arts in History at Arizona State University. The program requires 120 credit hours taken over the course of 39 classes, each of which is seven and a half weeks in length. The curriculum of this program ensures that students have a strong foundation in the humanities. They also learn to tell the stories of the past through digital media. ASU’s program is also transfer-friendly, meaning that students who have completed prior college coursework are easily able to transfer credits over to the university. U.S. News and World Report have ranked Arizona State as the No. 1 Most Innovative School in the U.S.
Net Price: $12,947
#1 HARVARD UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF LIBERAL ARTS WITH A HISTORY FIELD OF STUDY
Score: 100.00
At the top of this list is Harvard University’s Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a field of study in History program. This degree, completed online through the Harvard Extension School, is geared toward students who work full-time. Many students have also received college credit from another institution, and Harvard accepts a maximum of 64 credits from another institution. The university also offered a joint bachelor’s and master’s option in which students can earn both their undergraduate and graduate degrees with an additional two semesters of study. The degree requires 128 credits of study, and students also diversify their experience with classes in the humanities, social sciences, and the hard sciences.
Net Price: $17,030
