by our College Data Analytics Team
[History](/majors/history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 53 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for history students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #1 spot for value among history schools in New York. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, compared with $15,414 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $61,459. Set against $11,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $28,790 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,090 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $43,874. Set against $15,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny College Of Staten Island one of the best values for history. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. History graduates carry a median of $12,648 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $51,911. Set against $12,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
Cuny City College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,487 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $30,290. Set against $11,487 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #6 for value in history this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $12,678 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $43,545. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny Queens College earned the #7 position for value in history this year. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $27,769 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #8 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $18,674. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Old Westbury landed the #9 spot for history value this year. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,372, compared with $18,842 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $16,800. Early-career history graduates make about $33,901. That is a strong return on a $16,800 median debt. Suny College At Old Westbury admits about 84% of applicants.
Suffolk County Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $11,246. History graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Suny At Albany came in at #11 for value in history this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,034. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $32,174. That is a strong return on a $23,034 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #12 for value in history this year. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Students borrow a median of $8,794 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $30,111. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
Suny College At Buffalo placed #13 among the best values for history. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Students borrow a median of $25,394 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $35,822. That is a strong return on a $25,394 median debt. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Suny College At Plattsburgh ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,035, with out-of-state students paying around $18,945. Students borrow a median of $23,439 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $28,400 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,439 median debt. Suny College At Plattsburgh admits about 78% of applicants.
Stony Brook University earned the #15 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $36,426 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Oswego placed #16 among the best values for history. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $28,242 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Geneseo came in at #17 for value in history this year. Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Geneseo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,999, while out-of-state students pay about $19,569. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of $28,664 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Geneseo admits about 66% of applicants.
Suny College At Brockport came in at #18 for value in history this year. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,822. Students borrow a median of $25,446 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $22,976. That is a strong return on a $25,446 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #19 spot for history value this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,572, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $19,303 in student loans. History graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $20,124 early in their careers. Set against $19,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Suny Empire State College landed the #20 spot for history value this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. Typical student debt for history graduates is $30,992. History graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $58,140 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,992 median debt.
Suny College At Oneonta placed #21 among the best values for history. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,781. History graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $36,625. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. Suny College At Oneonta admits about 70% of applicants.
Suny College At Potsdam earned the #22 position for value in history this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $32,485. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Saint Josephs College New York placed #23 among the best values for history. Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,550. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,717. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Saint Josephs College New York generally make around $49,214. That is a strong return on a $24,717 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #24 among the best values for history. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Typical student debt for history graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $53,828. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo came in at #25 for value in history this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. History graduates carry a median of $23,392 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $28,857. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in history:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 53 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.