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2023 Most Focused Colleges for History in the Plains States Region

150 Ranked Colleges
1,798 Degrees Awarded
$25,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 32,731 people earned their degree in history, making the major the 30th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,467 and had an average of $23,587 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,798 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,406 and $25,596 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 150 colleges that offered a degree in history. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in history.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The history school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region history students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for History in the Plains States Region

1
Grinnell crest
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

Out of the 150 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #1 spot on the list. Grinnell is located in Grinnell, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Grinnell

2
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 150 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Carleton College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Carleton College History Report

3
Sterling College crest
Sterling College
Sterling, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sterling College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Sterling College is a small school located in Sterling, Kansas that handed out 6 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Sterling College History Report

4
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cornell College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Cornell College

5

Out of the 150 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Westminster College Missouri landed the #5 spot on the list. Westminster College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fulton, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Westminster College Missouri History Report

6

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNK History Report

7
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Spearfish, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at Black Hills State University

8
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about History at St. Olaf

9
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri

College of the Ozarks did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Hard Work U is a small school located in Point Lookout, Missouri that handed out 11 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about History at College of the Ozarks

10
Central crest
Central College
Pella, Iowa

Central College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Central is a small school located in Pella, Iowa that handed out 8 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Central College

11
William Jewell crest
William Jewell College
Liberty, Missouri

William Jewell College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Liberty, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full William Jewell College History Report

12
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

With a ranking of #12, Simpson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Indianola, Iowa, and it awarded 10 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Simpson College

13
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Truman State University is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 36 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Truman State

14
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 12 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Gustavus Adolphus College

15
Coe crest
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, Coe College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Coe College

16
BLC crest
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minnesota

Bethany Lutheran College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Bethany Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Bethany Lutheran College

17
McPherson College crest
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas

McPherson College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. McPherson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in McPherson, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at McPherson College

18
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Luther College History Report

19

With a ranking of #19, Ottawa University - Online did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Ottawa, Kansas, and it awarded 2 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about History at Ottawa University - Online

20
Hastings crest
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska

Hastings College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Hastings is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hastings, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Hastings College History Report

21

University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris History Report

22

Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 11 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Nebraska Wesleyan University

23
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Hillsboro, Kansas, and it awarded 3 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about History at Tabor

24
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Loras is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 8 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Loras College History Report

25
Culver - Stockton crest
Culver - Stockton College
Canton, Missouri

Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Culver - Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Canton, Missouri. It awarded 5 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Culver - Stockton History Report

Notes and References

References

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