2026 Best Value History Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value History Schools
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College tops our 2026 list of the best value history schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. History graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. History graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $61,459 early in their careers. Set against $11,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,648 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $51,911. That is a strong return on a $12,648 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $28,790. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Princeton University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $10,888. History graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $45,363 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #5 place for history. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,090. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $43,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Queens College came in at #6 for value in history this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for history graduates is $13,000. Early-career history graduates make about $27,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny City College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $11,487 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $30,290. Set against $11,487 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #8 for value in history this year. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Typical student debt for history graduates is $12,678. Early-career history graduates make about $43,545. That is a strong return on a $12,678 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Suny College At Old Westbury ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,372, while out-of-state students pay about $18,842. Students borrow a median of $16,800 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Suny College At Old Westbury earn a median of $33,901 early in their careers. Set against $16,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #10 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. History graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans. History graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $18,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Suffolk County Community College earned the #11 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #12 for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,715. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $42,020. That is a strong return on a $23,715 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University came in at #13 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Towson University earn a median of $40,162 early in their careers. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #14 position for value in history this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for history graduates is $13,426. History graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Montclair State University earned the #15 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $31,607. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kean University landed the #16 spot for history value this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Typical student debt for history graduates is $26,000. Early-career history graduates make about $34,934. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
New Jersey City University came in at #17 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,629. Early-career history graduates make about $40,919. Set against $25,629 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #18 spot for history value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,794 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $30,111. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
University Of Delaware landed the #19 spot for history value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $34,753 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Suny Empire State College landed the #20 spot for history value this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Typical student debt for history graduates is $30,992. Early-career history graduates make about $58,140. That is a strong return on a $30,992 median debt.
University Of Maryland University College placed #21 among the best values for history. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,136, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,750. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $31,852. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt.
Bucks County Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Salisbury University landed the #23 spot for history value this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,084, with out-of-state students paying around $22,174. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Salisbury University generally make around $27,873. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
Stony Brook University earned the #24 position for value in history this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $36,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Buffalo placed #25 among the best values for history. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. History graduates carry a median of $25,394 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $35,822. Set against $25,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value History Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for history this year:
Narrow History Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 232 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 70 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[History](/majors/history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
