2026 Best Value History Schools in Rhode Island
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
For return on investment in history, no school beat University Of Rhode Island this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. History graduates carry a median of $21,469 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $34,319. Set against $21,469 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,141. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $31,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brown University earned it the #3 place for history. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $13,491. History graduates of Brown University earn a median of $42,296 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,491 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Roger Williams University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,197. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,676. Early-career history graduates make about $48,664. Set against $25,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Providence College earned it the #5 place for history. Located in the city of Providence, Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Providence College generally make around $41,923. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
