2026 Best Value History Schools in Alabama

[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 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value history schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value History Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Schools
For return on investment in history, no school beat University Of North Alabama this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. History graduates carry a median of $19,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $27,927. Set against $19,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Troy University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, while out-of-state students pay about $20,352. History graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $39,591. Set against $28,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at University Of South Alabama, which ranked #3. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. History graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $29,744. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned it the #4 place for history. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,175 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $28,121. That is a strong return on a $28,175 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Alabama At Huntsville one of the best values for history. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, with out-of-state students paying around $26,408. Students borrow a median of $24,797 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Huntsville generally make around $62,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama landed the #6 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,568 to complete the history program here. History graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $25,533 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,568 median debt. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Auburn University came in at #7 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $30,458 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
View All History Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.