2026 Best Value History Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value History associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1480 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value History Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
American Public University System tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value History associate's degree schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Charles Town, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. The median History program debt is $23,160. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,409. Set against $23,160 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on American Public University System
Out of the 1480 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Brigham Young University Idaho landed the #2 spot. Located in Rexburg, ID, Brigham Young University Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,800. Graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,406. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%. Read the full report on Brigham Young University Idaho
Utah Valley University came in at #3 on this year's best-value History ranking in the United States. Utah Valley University is a public school based in Orem, UT. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,486. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt. Get the full Utah Valley University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny Empire State College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Saratoga Springs, NY, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, with out-of-state students paying around $17,558. The median History program debt is $30,992. Median earnings reach $54,080 ten years out. Set against $30,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Suny Empire State College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Liberty University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. The median History program debt is $27,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,813 ten years after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted. See the full Liberty University profile
Regent University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Set in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Regent University alumni report median earnings of $44,498 a decade after entry. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%. Read the full report on Regent University
Fresno Pacific University placed #7 among the best-value History schools in the United States. More on Fresno Pacific University
Kennesaw State University came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Kennesaw State University report
La Roche College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Read more about La Roche College
Lake Erie College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Lake Erie College
Roanoke College
Roanoke College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Roanoke College report
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #12 among the best-value History schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa report
Washington And Lee University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Washington And Lee University
Angelo State University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Angelo State University
Antioch College
Antioch College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Antioch College
California Baptist University placed #16 among the best-value History schools in the United States. Read more about California Baptist University
Harvard University placed #17 among the best-value History schools in the United States. More on Harvard University
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. More on Northwest Missouri State University
Ramapo College Of New Jersey offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Ramapo College Of New Jersey profile
Vanguard University Of Southern California came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Vanguard University Of Southern California
Wayne State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. See the full Wayne State University profile
East Mississippi Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on East Mississippi Community College
Ferris State University offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Ferris State University profile
Henderson State University offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Henderson State University profile
Lipscomb University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. More on Lipscomb University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value History Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Merrimack College placed #26 among the best-value History schools in the United States. See the full Merrimack College profile
Mohave Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. Read the full report on Mohave Community College
Rocky Mountain College placed #28 among the best-value History schools in the United States. Get the full Rocky Mountain College report
Saint Martins University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Saint Martins University profile
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College placed #30 among the best-value History schools in the United States. See the full University Of Cincinnati Clermont College profile
Adrian College
Adrian College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. See the full Adrian College profile
American University landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about American University
De Anza College
De Anza College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. Read more about De Anza College
Mercy College
Mercy College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Mercy College
Pasadena City College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. Get the full Pasadena City College report
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #36 among the best-value History schools in the United States. Get the full Rutgers University New Brunswick report
Seton Hill University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. Get the full Seton Hill University report
Southeastern University placed #38 among the best-value History schools in the United States. Read more about Southeastern University
University Of California Berkeley ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
University Of California San Francisco landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of California San Francisco report
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
Gonzaga University placed #42 among the best-value History schools in the United States. See the full Gonzaga University profile
Goucher College
Goucher College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Goucher College report
Illinois College
Illinois College offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Illinois College profile
Los Angeles Valley College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Los Angeles Valley College
Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. More on Pacific University
Suffolk University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Suffolk University
Suny College At Brockport landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Suny College At Brockport
University Of Hawaii At Hilo ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value History schools. Read more about University Of Hawaii At Hilo
University Of Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on University Of Maine
Related History Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value History Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value History Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value History Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value History Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value History Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value History Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value History Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1480 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).
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