2023 Best Value History Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best History School for You
In 2020-2021, 32,731 people earned a degree or certificate in history, making the major the #23 most popular in the United States.
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value History Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 418 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for history students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in History
Our analysis found American Public University System to be the best value school for history students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at American Military University are $7,360 per year. On average, history graduates from American Military University take out $20,854 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, American Military University also did well on our Best History Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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The excellent programs at Ashland University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best history schools in the United States. Ashland is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ashland are $23,090 a year. On average, history graduates from Ashland take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full History at Ashland University Report
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Out of the 418 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the # 3 spot on the list. BYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU are $6,120 a year. After completing their degree, history graduates from BYU carry an average student debtload of $19,314.
BYU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
Full History at Brigham Young University - Provo Report
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value History Schools list. BYU - I is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU - I are $4,416 per year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland Global Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value History Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Adelphi, UMGC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UMGC are $12,336 per year. While working on their degree, history majors at UMGC accumulate an average of around $22,129 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, UMGC is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
Full History at University of Maryland Global Campus Report
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Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value history programs. ASU - Skysong is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale.
ASU - Skysong undergraduate students pay an average of $13,092 in tuition and fees each year. On average, history graduates from ASU - Skysong take out $28,276 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $295.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, ASU - Skysong also did well on our Best History Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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National University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for history students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of La Jolla, National University is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
National University undergraduate students pay an average of $13,320 in tuition and fees each year. History majors at National University take out an average of $31,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
National University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
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South Dakota State University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value history programs. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school located in the remote town of Brookings.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Dakota State are $12,809 per year. History majors at South Dakota State take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, South Dakota State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
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Columbia College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value History Schools list. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Columbia.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbia College Missouri are $11,636 per year. While working on their degree, history majors at Columbia College Missouri accumulate an average of around $36,950 in student debt.
Columbia College Missouri also claimed a spot on our Best History Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Full History at Columbia College Report
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With a ranking of #11, Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well on this year’s best value schools for history students. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University - CCPS is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Drury University - CCPS are $7,924 per year. While working on their degree, history majors at Drury University - CCPS accumulate an average of around $29,000 in student debt.
Full History at Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies Report
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University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for history students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the town of Pembroke, UNC Pembroke is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UNC Pembroke are $7,495 a year. History majors at UNC Pembroke take out an average of $26,486 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value history programs. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Mankato.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Minnesota State Mankato are $18,200 a year. While working on their degree, history majors at Minnesota State Mankato accumulate an average of around $26,667 in student debt.
Minnesota State Mankato excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
Full History at Minnesota State University - Mankato Report
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for history students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. After completing their degree, history graduates from SIUE carry an average student debtload of $22,750.
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University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value history programs. Located in the distant town of Kearney, UNK is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNK are $15,320 per year. After completing their degree, history graduates from UNK carry an average student debtload of $20,581.
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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public school with a large student population.
UW Oshkosh undergraduate students pay an average of $15,306 in tuition and fees each year.
UW Oshkosh excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
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Salisbury University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools ranking. Salisbury is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Salisbury are $20,458 per year. On average, history graduates from Salisbury take out $23,372 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $460.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Salisbury also is in the top 15% of our Best History Schools ranking.
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Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value History Schools list. SRU is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Slippery Rock.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SRU are $14,615 per year. After completing their degree, history graduates from SRU carry an average student debtload of $26,889.
In addition to its great value ranking, SRU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best History Schools list.
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With a ranking of #19, Western Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for history students. WCU is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Cullowhee.
WCU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,367 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, history graduates from WCU carry an average student debtload of $25,550.
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Dalton State College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value History Schools list. Located in the small city of Dalton, DSC is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at DSC are $10,589 a year. History majors at DSC take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #21, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for history students. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NIU are $14,738 per year. History majors at NIU take out an average of $22,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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SUNY Cortland ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value History Schools list. Located in the town of Cortland, SUNY Cortland is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
SUNY Cortland undergraduate students pay an average of $18,725 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, history graduates from SUNY Cortland carry an average student debtload of $25,691.
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With a ranking of #23, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for history students. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Ship is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ship are $14,122 per year. History majors at Ship take out an average of $26,976 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full History at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Report
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With a ranking of #24, Northeastern State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for history students. Located in the remote town of Tahlequah, NSU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NSU are $15,755 a year. History majors at NSU take out an average of $23,165 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #25, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for history students. WIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, history graduates from WIU carry an average student debtload of $29,750.
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Additional Award Winners
This list represents the rest of the schools awarded a Best Value History Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 418 different United States history schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Utah Valley University | Orem, UT |
| 52 | Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches, TX |
| 53 | University of Houston - Clear Lake | Houston, TX |
| 54 | University of Arkansas - Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR |
| 55 | Colorado State University - Pueblo | Pueblo, CO |
| 56 | Texas Woman’s University | Denton, TX |
| 57 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside | Kenosha, WI |
| 58 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
| 59 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 59 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 61 | Norwich University | Northfield, VT |
| 62 | Georgia Gwinnett College | Lawrenceville, GA |
| 62 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 62 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester, PA |
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value History Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Columbus State University | Columbus, GA |
| 66 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 67 | Texas A&M University - Commerce | Commerce, TX |
| 68 | Texas A&M University - San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| 69 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
| 69 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
| 71 | SUNY Geneseo | Geneseo, NY |
| 72 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| 73 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 74 | Lehman College | Bronx, NY |
| 75 | Towson University | Towson, MD |
| 76 | Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN |
| 77 | Utah State University | Logan, UT |
| 77 | Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ |
| 79 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston, SC |
| 80 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA |
| 80 | Clayton State University | Morrow, GA |
| 80 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR |
| 80 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA |
History by Region
View the Best Value History Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More History Rankings
History Related Majors for History
History Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| History | 32,731 |
Most Popular Majors Related to History
| 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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