2026 Best Value History Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Schools
Our analysis ranked Portland State University the best value for a degree in history in Oregon. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $24,612 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Oregon State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,332 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $34,589. Set against $24,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Eastern Oregon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of La Grande, Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,729. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Eastern Oregon University earn a median of $43,041 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Oregon is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,675 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $25,571. That is a strong return on a $18,675 median debt. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
Willamette University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,156. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Willamette University generally make around $22,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Willamette University admits about 77% of applicants.
Lewis And Clark College landed the #6 spot for history value this year. Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,828. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,301. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Lewis And Clark College generally make around $43,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Reed College placed #7 among the best values for history. Reed College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,350. History graduates carry a median of $21,137 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $30,588. Set against $21,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Reed College admits about 25% of applicants.
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
