2027 Best Value History Education Schools in the Southeast Region

[History Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/history-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for history education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value History Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Education Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Arkansas Fort Smith the best value for a degree in history education in the Southeast Region. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Smith. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, while out-of-state students pay about $12,182. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $16,500. History Education graduates of University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of $40,525 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. History Education graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $44,712. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kennesaw State University earned it the #3 place for history education. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. History Education graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $45,243 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Tennessee Wesleyan College one of the best values for history education. Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $30,814. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $29,750. History Education graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan College earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history education, landing the #5 spot this year. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history education program here. History Education graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University earned the #6 position for value in history education this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $44,026. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University came in at #7 for value in history education this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $29,625. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $48,056. Set against $29,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Maryville College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Maryville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,284. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $26,428. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Maryville College generally make around $42,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Carson Newman College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,700. History Education graduates carry a median of $25,075 in student loans. History Education graduates of Carson Newman College earn a median of $46,048 early in their careers. Set against $25,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Piedmont College earned the #10 position for value in history education this year. Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Demorest. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,700. Students borrow a median of $29,975 to complete the history education program here. History Education graduates of Piedmont College earn a median of $55,865 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Bob Jones University earned the #11 position for value in history education this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,892 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the history education program here. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $40,538. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt.
Ferrum College placed #12 among the best values for history education. Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ferrum. Students from in state pay about $28,380 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $31,000. Early-career history education graduates make about $34,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Dayton ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $19,800. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $25,652. History Education graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,652 median debt.
Wingate University placed #14 among the best values for history education. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,576. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. History Education graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $41,245 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,614 median debt. Wingate University admits about 91% of applicants.
Emmanuel College Georgia came in at #15 for value in history education this year. Set in the rural area of Franklin Springs, Emmanuel College Georgia is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,500. History Education graduates carry a median of $25,807 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Emmanuel College Georgia generally make around $30,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
North Greenville University placed #16 among the best values for history education. Located in the rural area of Tigerville, North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,800. History Education graduates carry a median of $19,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from North Greenville University generally make around $42,864. That is a strong return on a $19,271 median debt. North Greenville University admits about 67% of applicants.
Huntingdon College came in at #17 for value in history education this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,070. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $28,252. History Education graduates of Huntingdon College earn a median of $33,649 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,252 median debt. Huntingdon College admits about 70% of applicants.
Mercer University earned the #18 position for value in history education this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. Students from in state pay about $31,565 in tuition and fees. History Education graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $56,699. That is a strong return on a $32,463 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #19 position for value in history education this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $27,414. Early-career history education graduates make about $50,560. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Narrow History Education Schools by State
More History Education Rankings
View All History Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.