2026 Best Value History Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Schools
For return on investment in history, no school beat Williams College this year. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $12,615. History graduates of Williams College earn a median of $53,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $12,721. History graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $53,468 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,721 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Amherst College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,480. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,398. History graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $56,444 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,398 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Students borrow a median of $24,610 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $38,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,610 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Framingham State University, which ranked #5. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, compared with $18,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $34,836 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $34,215 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Students borrow a median of $24,862 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $46,908. Set against $24,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Salem State University earned the #8 position for value in history this year. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $29,307. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salem State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #9 spot for history value this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. History graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $27,586. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Westfield State University came in at #10 for value in history this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $24,879. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #11 among the best values for history. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,000. Early-career history graduates make about $30,581. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #12 spot for history value this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $22,750. History graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $26,805 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College placed #13 among the best values for history. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. Typical student debt for history graduates is $26,372. History graduates of Gordon College earn a median of $37,097 early in their careers. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College came in at #14 for value in history this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,000. History graduates of Smith College earn a median of $26,131 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Boston University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. History graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $63,598. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Simmons College placed #16 among the best values for history. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,874. Students borrow a median of $26,740 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Simmons College generally make around $41,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simmons College admits about 70% of applicants.
Clark University placed #17 among the best values for history. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $43,257. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Assumption College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. In-state tuition and fees average $51,356. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of Assumption College earn a median of $50,914 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.
Springfield College placed #19 among the best values for history. Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $44,974 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,151 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Springfield College generally make around $49,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Mount Holyoke College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. History graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $23,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Suffolk University came in at #21 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,550 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $57,261. Set against $26,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Wheaton College Massachusetts placed #22 among the best values for history. Located in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $63,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $32,896. Set against $25,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Northeastern University landed the #23 spot for history value this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,250. Early-career history graduates make about $74,800. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Brandeis University landed the #24 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,080 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $33,903. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University earned the #25 position for value in history this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,750. Early-career history graduates make about $41,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value History Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in history:
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
