2027 Best Value History Schools in District of Columbia
[History](/majors/history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value history schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value History Schools in District of Columbia
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
Leading the list is Catholic University Of America, our #1 best value for history in District of Columbia. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. History graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $65,120. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Catholic University Of America admits about 83% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes George Washington University one of the best values for history. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,710 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $38,927. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Georgetown University one of the best values for history. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $16,640 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $49,876. That is a strong return on a $16,640 median debt. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
American University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #4 spot this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $45,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. American University admits about 62% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Howard University one of the best values for history. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,810. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $58,495. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. The acceptance rate is 41%.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
