2027 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[History](/majors/history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 85 schools to find the best return on investment for history students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value History Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value history schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. History graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $26,474. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland University earned it the #2 place for history. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for history graduates is $22,875. Early-career history graduates make about $36,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Indiana University Southeast, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $23,981 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast generally make around $43,463. That is a strong return on a $23,981 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #4 place for history. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,494. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $40,587. Set against $19,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #5. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Northwest placed #6 among the best values for history. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Typical student debt for history graduates is $25,083. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $51,424. That is a strong return on a $25,083 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #7 spot for history value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $31,526. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. History graduates carry a median of $23,892 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $33,297. Set against $23,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. History graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $33,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #10 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $26,436. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. History graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $32,149. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Students borrow a median of $29,702 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $38,628. That is a strong return on a $29,702 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,119. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $49,424. Set against $24,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Albion College placed #14 among the best values for history. Set in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,950. Typical student debt for history graduates is $26,254. History graduates of Albion College earn a median of $40,829 early in their careers. Set against $26,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Albion College admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Chicago ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. History graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $46,616. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #16 among the best values for history. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. History graduates carry a median of $22,980 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $63,111. That is a strong return on a $22,980 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Wayne State University placed #17 among the best values for history. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for history graduates is $32,544. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $41,874. That is a strong return on a $32,544 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Students borrow a median of $31,016 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $51,692. Set against $31,016 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #19 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. History graduates carry a median of $21,906 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $32,259. Set against $21,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #20 for value in history this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $30,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #21 for value in history this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. History graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. History graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $39,102 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,100 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $32,577. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Western Illinois University landed the #23 spot for history value this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $31,250 in student loans. History graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $47,926 early in their careers. Set against $31,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #24 for value in history this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $47,577. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #25 spot for history value this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $40,807. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value History Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for history this year:
Narrow History Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 85 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 85 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.
