2027 Best Value History Schools in Illinois
[History](/majors/history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong history education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for history students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value History Schools in Illinois
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 earned the #1 spot for value among history schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $26,474. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,892. History graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $33,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,892 median debt. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Eastern Illinois University, which ranked #3. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $32,149. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. History graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $26,436. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $33,288 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Chicago came in at #6 for value in history this year. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Western Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. History graduates carry a median of $31,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $47,926. That is a strong return on a $31,250 median debt. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 for value in history this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. 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. Set against $25,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #9 position for value in history this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $39,102. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #10 position for value in history this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $21,500. History graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $26,916 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Aurora University earned the #11 position for value in history this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,170. History graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Illinois State University earned the #12 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. History graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. History graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $40,465 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Elmhurst College earned the #13 position for value in history this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $51,232. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Students borrow a median of $26,243 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Augustana College Illinois generally make around $39,096. That is a strong return on a $26,243 median debt. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #15 for value in history this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,292 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $43,654. Set against $23,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,402. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $41,168. That is a strong return on a $26,661 median debt. Lake Forest College admits about 57% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #17 among the best values for history. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $15,917 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $50,161. That is a strong return on a $15,917 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University landed the #18 spot for history value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $36,889. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago placed #19 among the best values for history. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $31,079. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.
