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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for History in the Plains States Region

46 Ranked Colleges
1,567 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Plains States Region” 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.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,824 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,537 and $23,960 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,567 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 46 colleges that offered 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the history program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for History in the Plains States Region

#1

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State University is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree history students list, South Dakota State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at South Dakota State University

#2

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Kirksville, Missouri, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Truman State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $12,462 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 full report on History at Truman State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwest Minnesota State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

Read more about History at Southwest Minnesota State University

#4

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#23 in overall quality

Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College landed the #4 spot on the list. Columbia College Missouri is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Missouri, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $26,730 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.

Read full report on History at Columbia College

#5

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,656 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students per year to attend Winona State University.

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%.

Read more about History at Winona State

#6

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

With a ranking of #6, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USD is $18,555 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at University of South Dakota

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UMN Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris History Report

#18 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato History Report

#9

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #11 spot in our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about History at UNI

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at UNK

#4 in overall quality

Iowa State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 67 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students per year to attend Iowa State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Iowa State University

#12

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#22 in overall quality

Lindenwood University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Charles, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $17,491 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Lindenwood University

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a medium-sized school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 4 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $16,893 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 MSU Moorhead

#14

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

With a ranking of #14, Northern State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. NSU is a small public school situated in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It awarded 4 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,851 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students per year to attend Northern State University.

Read more about History at Northern State University

With a ranking of #15, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 11 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend FHSU is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

Read more about History at Fort Hays State University

#16

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota

With a ranking of #16, Black Hills State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Black Hills State University is a public institution located in Spearfish, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Black Hills State University is $16,641 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

Read more about History at BHSU

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,725 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

Read full report on History at Missouri State University - Springfield

With a ranking of #18, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

Full UNOMAHA History Report

#19

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

With a ranking of #19, Washburn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,481 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students per year to attend Washburn University.

Read more about History at Washburn University

#20

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#19 in overall quality

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $18,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about History at K -State

#21

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UCM is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 12 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,677 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students per year to attend University of Central Missouri.

Read more about History at University of Central Missouri

#12 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 47 degrees to qualified bachelors’s history students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree history students list, UNL has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $17,208 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree History students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln History Report

#22

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s history degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $18,918 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about History at University of Kansas

#24

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

University of Iowa landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 72 bachelors’s history degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,145 for plains states region 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 University of Iowa

#16 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value History Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s history degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree history students list, Mizzou has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best History Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree history students per year to attend Mizzou.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on History at Mizzou

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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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