by our College Data Analytics Team
[History](/majors/history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong history education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value history schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in history in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. History graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #2 place for history. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $8,750. Early-career history graduates make about $43,853. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Colorado State University Pueblo, which ranked #3. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. History graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $32,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Weber State University earned it the #4 place for history. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for history graduates is $15,750. History graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $53,920 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Southern Utah University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Students borrow a median of $12,886 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wyoming came in at #7 for value in history this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for history graduates is $18,209. History graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $35,450 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,209 median debt. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Front Range Community College landed the #8 spot for history value this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $40,414. That is a strong return on a $17,384 median debt.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #9 for value in history this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. History graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $38,643. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Utah State University placed #10 among the best values for history. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. History graduates carry a median of $25,237 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $31,768. That is a strong return on a $25,237 median debt. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Idaho came in at #11 for value in history this year. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,965. History graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $43,246 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,965 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Idaho State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history graduates is $30,793. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver placed #13 among the best values for history. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt for history graduates is $34,125. History graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $42,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,125 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Mesa State College placed #14 among the best values for history. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. Set against $22,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $38,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Utah ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. History graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $28,277. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #17 among the best values for history. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. History graduates carry a median of $18,666 in student loans. History graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $42,266 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,666 median debt.
The University Of Montana placed #18 among the best values for history. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical student debt for history graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $28,508. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #19 position for value in history this year. Set in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. Students borrow a median of $23,804 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $35,403 early in their careers. Set against $23,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Idaho earned the #20 position for value in history this year. The College Of Idaho is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Caldwell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,845. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,789. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from The College Of Idaho generally make around $30,968. Set against $23,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $24,152 in student loans. History graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $39,258 early in their careers. Set against $24,152 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boise State University earned the #22 position for value in history this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. History graduates carry a median of $28,050 in student loans. History graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $34,568 early in their careers. Set against $28,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University earned the #23 position for value in history this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. History graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $29,692. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #24 position for value in history this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for history graduates is $17,905. History graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $37,044 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Colorado College landed the #25 spot for history value this year. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,734. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Colorado College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in history:
This list is compiled 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.