2023 Best Value Colleges for History in the Great Lakes Region
57
Ranked Colleges
3,756
Degrees Awarded
$16,500
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 32,731 people earned their degree in history, making the major the 23rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,467 and had an average of $23,587 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,756 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,228 and $24,399 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 57 colleges that offered a degree in history. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality history programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the history program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank History Schools
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 in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region history students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for History in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 57 schools in the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ashland University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Ashland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 75 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region history students list, Ashland has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ashland University is $20,974 for Great Lakes Region History students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about History at Ashland
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,462 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Read full report on History at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s history degrees to qualified students.
NIU also took the #22 spot in our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region History students.
Read more about History at NIU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 39 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for great lakes region history students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Read full report on History at Central Michigan University
Out of the 57 schools in the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 41 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region history students list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for Great Lakes Region History students.
Read more about History at UW - Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 43 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,417 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Read more about History at UW - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 21 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for great lakes region history students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about History at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Illinois State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 107 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region History students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on History at Illinois State University
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region History students.
Read full report on History at UW - Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 21 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,687 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
Read full report on History at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 33 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,092 for great lakes region history students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
Read more about History at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
With a ranking of #12, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 19 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $20,371 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend WMU.
Read full report on History at WMU
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 37 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for great lakes region history students.
Full University of Akron Main Campus History Report
With a ranking of #14, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 25 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,305 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend WIU.
Read more about History at Western Illinois University
With a ranking of #15, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,285 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Read more about History at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 67 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also took the #19 spot in our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $23,831 for great lakes region history students.
Read full report on History at Ohio University - Athens Campus
With a ranking of #17, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 85 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $17,356 for Great Lakes Region History students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full GVSU History Report
Eastern Illinois University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,098 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend EIU.
Read full report on History at Eastern Illinois University
University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,082 for Great Lakes Region History students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Read full report on History at University of Wisconsin - Parkside
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 38 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for Great Lakes Region History students.
Read more about History at BGSU
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 53 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
UC also took the #14 spot in our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC is $22,415 for Great Lakes Region History students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UC History Report
With a ranking of #22, Oakland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 51 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
Oakland also made our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $13,449 for great lakes region history students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about History at Oakland
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s history degrees to qualified students.
Purdue also took the #17 spot in our “Best History Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region History students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about History at Purdue University - Main Campus
Kent State University at Kent landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 46 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $19,117 for great lakes region history students per year to attend Kent State University at Kent.
Full Kent State History Report
Cleveland State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 34 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $16,943 for great lakes region history students.
Read full report on History at Cleveland State University
