History Degrees in New Jersey - HistoryDegree.org

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Nearly 600 battles and skirmishes were fought across New Jersey between late 1776 and 1778, which is why fourteen of its counties now sit inside the federally designated Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. Studying history here means studying it a short drive from where much of it happened.

New Jersey has 23 colleges and universities offering history degrees, with 47 programs among them. That works out to 32 bachelor’s degrees, 11 master’s degrees, and 4 doctorates.

Two schools carry history from bachelor’s through doctorate: Rutgers University and Princeton University.

New Jersey at a Glance

Schools offering history	23
History programs	47
Bachelor’s / master’s / doctoral	32 / 11 / 4
Online programs	2
Schools offering all three levels	2
Lowest in-state tuition and fees	$6,838 per year
Largest history catalog	Rutgers University New Brunswick, 12 programs

Program counts come from our directory. Tuition figures are annual in-state tuition and fees from the U.S. Department of Education, and exclude room and board.

Top History Schools in New Jersey

As with every state we cover, we scored all 26 New Jersey schools on four factors: history degree offerings and program variety (40%), student outcomes (25%), reputation (20%), and affordability (15%). Princeton and Rutgers New Brunswick post the strongest student outcomes on the list, while Rowan and Rutgers Newark carry the best affordability scores among the schools that made it. Here are New Jersey’s best history degrees.

1 Rutgers University New Brunswick

Rutgers organizes its graduate history degrees along two axes instead of one, splitting both the master’s and the doctorate into regional specialties and thematic specialties. That structure lets you build a doctorate around a place or around a problem. It is the largest history catalog in the state and the flagship campus of New Jersey’s public research system.

History programs: 5
Levels offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral
Carnegie classification: R1, very high research activity
In-state tuition and fees: $17,929

2 Rutgers University Newark

Newark’s graduate offering leans global, with a master’s in global and comparative history alongside a separate master’s in art history and a doctorate in history. The campus sits in New Jersey’s largest city, minutes from the New Jersey Historical Society’s manuscript collections.

History programs: 4
Levels offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral
Carnegie classification: R2, high research activity
In-state tuition and fees: $17,250

3 Princeton University

Princeton runs separate undergraduate degrees in history and in the history of art, then a master’s and doctorate in history. Its 98% four-year completion rate is the highest of any school in this ranking, in New Jersey or elsewhere. Tuition is a private rate and applies regardless of residency.

History programs: 4
Levels offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral
Carnegie classification: R1, very high research activity
Tuition and fees: $62,688

4 Rutgers University Camden

Camden is the Rutgers campus to look at for museum work. It offers a bachelor’s in art history and museum studies alongside its general history bachelor’s and a master’s in history, which is an unusual undergraduate pairing anywhere in the state.

History programs: 3
Levels offered: Bachelor’s, master’s
Carnegie classification: R2, high research activity
In-state tuition and fees: $17,764

5 Rowan University

Rowan keeps its history offering to a bachelor’s and a master’s, and prices both below every other school in this top five. For a student staying in southern New Jersey who wants a graduate credential without leaving the region, it is the most economical route on the list.

History programs: 2
Levels offered: Bachelor’s, master’s
Carnegie classification: R2, high research activity
In-state tuition and fees: $16,574

New Jersey’s R1 research universities in this ranking are Rutgers New Brunswick and Princeton. Those are the departments with the deepest doctoral programs and the largest faculty.

Most Affordable History Degrees in New Jersey

Most affordable history degrees in New Jersey
Rank	School	Program	Tuition per year
1	Thomas Edison State University	B.A. in History	$6,838
2	Kean University	Bachelor's in History	$14,299
3	New Jersey City University	B.A. in History	$14,460
4	William Paterson University	B.A. in History	$15,704
5	Montclair State University	Bachelor's in History	$15,912
6	Stockton University	B.A. in Historical Studies	$16,266
7	Rowan University	B.A. in History	$16,574
8	Rutgers University Newark	B.A. in History	$17,250

Annual in-state tuition and fees.

History Education in New Jersey

One system carries a quarter of the state. Rutgers runs history programs on three campuses, 12 programs in total, which is 26% of every history program in New Jersey. Those three campuses are also the only public schools in the state offering history at the doctoral level.

New Jersey’s transfer route is unusually well protected by law. The Comprehensive State-Wide Transfer Agreement, known as the Lampitt Law and in force since 2008, requires public four-year institutions to accept the full credit of an associate of arts or associate of science degree earned at a New Jersey community college, when the student moves into a comparable major. In practice that protects 60 to 64 credits, roughly half a bachelor’s. It does not guarantee admission, only that the credits survive once you are admitted.

Online study is the weak spot. Our directory finds only two fully online history programs in the entire state, both at the bachelor’s level. If distance learning is a requirement, not a preference, you will be looking outside New Jersey. Our guide to online history degrees covers the national picture.

Becoming a History Teacher in New Jersey

New Jersey sets an unusually specific coursework requirement. Social studies certification requires 30 credits in a coherent sequence, at least 12 of them at the junior, senior, or graduate level, and within those 30 credits you must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours in history including at least one American history course and one world history course.

Beyond the coursework, you need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 if you graduated on or after September 1, 2016. Pass the required Praxis social studies assessment and you can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility through the state.

The endorsement is broad once you hold it. It authorizes you to teach American history, European history, world history, government, political science, sociology, geography, anthropology, and economics in New Jersey public schools.

Confirm the current rules with the New Jersey Department of Education before choosing a program, since credit requirements are the kind of detail that changes.

History Careers in New Jersey

History Careers in New Jersey
Occupation	New Jersey jobs	New Jersey median	vs. U.S. median
Secondary school teachers	38,140	$82,200	+14%
Postsecondary history teachers	780	$99,900	+19%
Curators	120	$77,800	+23%
Archivists	70	$67,900	+5%
Historians	130	$77,080	+0.4%

Employment and wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

New Jersey pays above the national median in every occupation on this list, though not evenly. Curators come out furthest ahead at 23% above national, followed by postsecondary history teachers at 19% and secondary school teachers at 14%. Historians are the exception, sitting essentially level with the national figure. That premium is real, and it comes with a matching cost of living.

The job counts tell the usual story. Teaching accounts for 38,140 positions against 130 historians and 70 archivists statewide. New Jersey does have proportionally more working historians than most states its size, but the specialist market is still small.

History Resources in New Jersey

New Jersey Historical Society, based in Newark, holding 435 manuscript collections that document the state’s economic and social transformation between 1750 and 1860.
New Jersey Historical Commission, a Department of State agency created by statute in 1967 to advance public knowledge of New Jersey history. It funds grants and works with historical organizations statewide.
New Jersey State Archives, the official research center for public records of enduring historical value.
League of Historical Societies of New Jersey, the umbrella body connecting local and county historical societies across the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New Jersey University Has the Best History Program?

Rutgers University New Brunswick ranks first in our scoring, with 5 history programs, degrees at every level, and R1 research classification. Princeton is close behind on a 98% completion rate, the highest in the state. If cost is the deciding factor, Rowan offers a bachelor’s and master’s at $16,574 in state against Princeton’s $62,688.

Can You Get a History Degree Online in New Jersey?

Barely. Our directory found only two fully online history programs in New Jersey, both bachelor’s degrees, and no online master’s or doctorate. New Jersey is not a strong state for online history study, and anyone who needs that format should look at national options.

How Do You Become a History Teacher in New Jersey?

You need 30 credits in social studies including 15 semester hours of history, a bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 GPA, and a passing Praxis score, then a Certificate of Eligibility from the state. The full requirements are on the New Jersey Department of Education site.

How Much Does a History Degree Cost in New Jersey?

Annual in-state tuition and fees at New Jersey public universities offering history run from $6,838 to $17,929. Princeton, as a private university, charges $62,688 regardless of where you live.