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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for History

566 Ranked Colleges
26,120 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 32,905 people earned their degree in history, making the major the 22nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,593 and had an average of $23,490 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 26,120 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 566 colleges that offer a degree in history. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent history programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the history program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank History Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for History

#1

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
Top 10% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Public University System. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s. American Military University is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 110 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University also claimed a top spot on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend American Public University System is $10,222 for bachelor’s degree history students.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full American Public University System History Report

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. BYU is a large school located in Provo, Utah that handed out 89 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,322 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about History at Brigham Young University - Provo

#3

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 23 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, South Dakota State also did well on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $19,252 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State History Report

#4

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,748 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

#5

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Truman State University is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Truman State also claimed a top spot on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State is $12,462 for bachelor’s degree history students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on History at Truman State University

With a ranking of #6, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Read full report on History at Southwest Minnesota State University

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 28 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $15,463 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Read full report on History at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 115 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $13,971 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Full Arizona State University - Skysong History Report

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,580 for Bachelor’s Degree History students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about History at UW - La Crosse

#11

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SRU is $19,926 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Full SRU History Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 42 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $15,249 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

Read full report on History at UW - Whitewater

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UMGC is a large school located in Adelphi, Maryland that handed out 116 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

UMGC also claimed a top spot on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend University of Maryland Global Campus is $14,288 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

Read full report on History at University of Maryland Global Campus

#14

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri

Columbia College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 45 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $26,730 for bachelor’s degree history students per year to attend Columbia College.

Full Columbia College History Report

Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #15. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rexburg, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $7,167 for bachelor’s degree history students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at BYU - I

#16

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $17,656 for bachelor’s degree history students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State History Report

#17

Excelsior University

Albany, New York

Excelsior University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Albany, New York, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Read full report on History at Excelsior University

#18

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,020 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Read full report on History at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#19

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire

Southern New Hampshire University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. SNHU is located in Manchester, New Hampshire and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 226 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $41,095 for bachelor’s degree history students per year to attend Southern New Hampshire University.

Read full report on History at SNHU

#20

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

With a ranking of #20, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USD is $18,555 for bachelor’s degree history students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Dakota History Report

University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UMN Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 10 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at University of Minnesota - Morris

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 49 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,423 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville History Report

#23

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Read full report on History at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#24

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

Westfield State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Westfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Westfield State University is $19,167 for Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Westfield

#25

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school situated in Platteville, Wisconsin. It awarded 6 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $15,718 for bachelor’s degree history students.

Read more about History at UW - Platteville

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#27

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#28

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma
#29

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
#31

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#32

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#33

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#34

Hunter College

New York, New York
#36

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
#37

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#38

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#39

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#40

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke, North Carolina
#41

Nicholls State University

Thibodaux, Louisiana
#41

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#43

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#44

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#45

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#45

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#47

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#49

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois
#50

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Queens College Queens, NY
52 Iowa State University Ames, IA
53 Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO
54 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
55 National University La Jolla, CA
56 Nevada State College Henderson, NV
57 Texas A&M University - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
58 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX
59 Minnesota State University - Moorhead Moorhead, MN
60 Clayton State University Morrow, GA
61 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX
62 Northern State University Aberdeen, SD
63 University of Houston - Clear Lake Houston, TX
64 SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
65 Salisbury University Salisbury, MD
Rank College Location
66 SUNY Geneseo Geneseo, NY
66 Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield, PA
68 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL
69 Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA
70 Georgia Gwinnett College Lawrenceville, GA
71 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
71 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
71 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
74 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
75 University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA
76 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA
77 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL
78 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA
79 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
80 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
81 The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
82 SUNY Fredonia Fredonia, NY
83 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS
84 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
84 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL

Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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