2027 Best Value History Master’s Degree Schools
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 95 schools to find the best return on investment for history students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value History Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Schools
Princeton University earned the #1 spot for value among history schools in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $45,363. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Students borrow a median of $14,721 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $52,144. That is a strong return on a $14,721 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fullerton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $14,524 in student loans. History graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $36,905 early in their careers. Set against $14,524 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny City College one of the best values for history. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,487 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $30,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $27,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
California State University Fresno landed the #6 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Students borrow a median of $20,127 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $21,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the history program here. History graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $37,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
California State University East Bay landed the #8 spot for history value this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,583, compared with $20,183 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $20,000. History graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $31,059 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #9 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $14,838. Early-career history graduates make about $34,592. That is a strong return on a $14,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
California State University Long Beach landed the #10 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,000. History graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $25,014 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Florida International University landed the #11 spot for history value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. History graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $31,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
California State University Sacramento placed #12 among the best values for history. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $33,736. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in history this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,015 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $33,474 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Florida State University earned the #14 position for value in history this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,907. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $27,944. That is a strong return on a $19,907 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida earned the #15 position for value in history this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for history graduates is $21,965. Early-career history graduates make about $34,335. Set against $21,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Purdue University Northwest earned the #16 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $51,424 early in their careers. Set against $25,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,000. History graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $25,728 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
Stanford University earned the #18 position for value in history this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. History graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
California State University San Marcos came in at #19 for value in history this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $16,923. History graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $22,407 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #20 position for value in history this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. History graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $28,849. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #21 for value in history this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. History graduates carry a median of $22,562 in student loans. History graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $33,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $30,375. Early-career history graduates make about $29,619. That is a strong return on a $30,375 median debt. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #23 spot for history value this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,750. History graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $38,627 early in their careers. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
American Public University System came in at #24 for value in history this year. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,160 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $56,621. That is a strong return on a $23,160 median debt.
Portland State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. History graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $24,612. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s history value ranking:
Other History Degree Levels
Explore the best-value history schools at other degree levels:
View All History Rankings >
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 · 95 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 95 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.
