2027 Best Value History Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
[History Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/history-education/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for history education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value History Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the history education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value History Education Schools
Mayville State University earned the #1 spot for value among history education schools in the The Plains States Region. Mayville State University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mayville. Students from in state pay about $7,979 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,237. Students borrow a median of $27,464 to complete the history education program here. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Mayville State University generally make around $49,971. That is a strong return on a $27,464 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in history education will find it at Valley City State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,580 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,544 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $24,394. History Education graduates of Valley City State University earn a median of $51,170 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,394 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chadron State College earned it the #3 place for history education. Set in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $24,943. Early-career history education graduates make about $46,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in history education will find it at Wichita State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $22,145. Early-career history education graduates make about $47,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #5 makes Peru State College one of the best values for history education. Peru State College is a small public school located in the rural area of Peru. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,433. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans. History Education graduates of Peru State College earn a median of $40,993 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Ozarks came in at #6 for value in history education this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,360 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,042. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Minot State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Set in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,702. Students borrow a median of $28,324 to complete the history education program here. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Minot State University generally make around $44,973. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Dickinson State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Set in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,118. History Education graduates carry a median of $27,266 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $44,841. That is a strong return on a $27,266 median debt. The acceptance rate is 37%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in history education this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,485 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $54,076. Set against $25,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Wayne State College landed the #10 spot for history education value this year. Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wayne. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,957 to complete the history education program here. History Education graduates of Wayne State College earn a median of $46,646 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn University came in at #11 for value in history education this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $21,175. History Education graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $50,955 early in their careers. Set against $21,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pittsburg State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. History Education graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $50,003. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Northern State University came in at #13 for value in history education this year. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,845, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,143 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Northern State University generally make around $45,824. Set against $26,143 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #14 for value in history education this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $26,221. History Education graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,221 median debt. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Black Hills State University placed #15 among the best values for history education. Located in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, while out-of-state students pay about $12,018. Students borrow a median of $26,820 to complete the history education program here. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Black Hills State University generally make around $42,789. Set against $26,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Mary ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $27,399. History Education graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $43,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Buena Vista University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value history education schools. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,008 to complete the history education program here. History Education graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $44,551 early in their careers. Set against $29,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
Dakota Wesleyan University placed #18 among the best values for history education. Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mitchell. In-state tuition and fees average $33,790. History Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. History Education graduates of Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $71,856 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dakota Wesleyan University admits about 73% of applicants.
Jamestown College placed #19 among the best values for history education. Located in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $24,990 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $27,000. History Education graduates of Jamestown College earn a median of $59,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Sioux Falls came in at #20 for value in history education this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,750. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,103 in student loans. History Education graduates of University Of Sioux Falls earn a median of $39,899 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Sterling College Kansas came in at #21 for value in history education this year. Located in the rural area of Sterling, Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,700. History Education graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Sterling College Kansas generally make around $30,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sterling College Kansas admits about 48% of applicants.
William Penn University landed the #22 spot for history education value this year. Located in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. History Education graduates carry a median of $28,341 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $39,727. That is a strong return on a $28,341 median debt. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University earned the #23 position for value in history education this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $27,528. Early-career history education graduates make about $57,252. Set against $27,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #24 for value in history education this year. Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. History Education graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $54,845. That is a strong return on a $25,415 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Ottawa University Ottawa earned the #25 position for value in history education this year. Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ottawa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,880. History Education graduates carry a median of $30,125 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $49,850. That is a strong return on a $30,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value History Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s history education value ranking:
Narrow History Education Schools by State
More History Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
