Why This Matters

  • CHOOSE FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN CAREER PATHS

    History is a very versatile major. Individuals who pursue degrees in history can go on to be archivists, curators, researchers, teachers, writers, lawyers, politicians, and more.

  • DEMAND FOR ARCHIVISTS TO RISE 9% BY 2028

    As organizations have an increasing volume of information to manage and digitize, new opportunities for archivists are expected to open up at a faster-than-average pace.

  • EARN $14,270 MORE PER YEAR WITH A MASTER’S

    Teaching is another popular career path for history majors. Those with an advanced degree can teach at the college level, and earn an annual median wage of $74,590.

Our Research

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are the most common types of degrees in history, although some schools offer an associate’s degree in history. As history is a humanities field, most programs award a Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts in history. For this list, we reviewed associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs.

All of the programs on our list are delivered completely online. We only included programs that are offered by regionally accredited schools, meaning that they meet high standards of quality for higher education. Coursework and degrees from regionally accredited institutions are more widely recognized and accepted by other schools and employers.

We evaluated each program based on reputation, faculty, course strength, cost, and flexibility. Then we calculated an Intelligent Score for each program on a scale of 0 to 100. Our top picks for the best online history degrees are highly respected, a good value, and flexible.(For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.)

  • 55 hours to write this article
  • 118 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 271 education programs we compared

The Top 60 Online History Degrees

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What You Should Know About This Degree

While some individuals with history degrees go on to work as historians for museums, research organizations, or the government, there are actually multiple career paths available to those who study history. Without a specifically defined career path, history majors must be creative in their approaches to career, and look at interdisciplinary job opportunities that incorporate historical research and analysis skills.

Because a history degree program teaches a broad range of transferable skills including writing, critical-thinking, research, and problem-solving, employers in a variety of fields seek out history majors as job candidates. These fields include education, law, communications, journalism, government and more.

When exploring online programs, it’s important to confirm that the institution is authorized to grant degrees to students in the state where you reside. Check with the National Council of State Authorization of Reciprocity Agreements for more information about authorizations for distance education providers. The school may also provide information about its authorization for granting degrees to out-of-state students.

Even when programs are advertised as online, they may have minimal in-person requirements for internships, residencies, or other hands-on learning experiences. Review the program’s curriculum carefully to confirm if there are any in-person obligations, and decide if they will fit into your schedule and lifestyle.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online History programs:

  • Does this program offer the specialization I want? Many bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in history give students the option to focus on the history of a particular geographic region or time period. Specializations can include Middle Eastern history, Eurpoean history, or military history. If you are interested in focusing on a particular area, check if the program offers that option.
  • Does the program have a thesis option? This is a consideration for master’s level students. If you plan to continue on to earn a doctoral degree in history, completing a thesis as part of your master’s degree may be advantageous or even necessary. As a prerequisite for admission to some doctoral programs, you may need to submit an academic writing sample like a thesis. Keep this in mind when selecting and completing a master’s degree.

During the research process, review the program’s admissions requirements and deadlines, so you are prepared for the application process. You can find this information on the program’s website, or by contacting their admissions department directly.

Financing your education is another important consideration. Research scholarships, assistantships, loans, and payment plans.