2027 Best Value History Schools in North Carolina
[History](/majors/history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for history students.
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2027 Best Value History Schools in North Carolina
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 Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $14,838 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $34,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,838 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fayetteville State University earned it the #2 place for history. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,353, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. Students borrow a median of $27,869 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Fayetteville State University earn a median of $41,449 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned it the #3 place for history. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. History graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $27,241 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at University Of North Carolina At Asheville, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Students borrow a median of $16,690 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $28,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,690 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Asheville admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,750. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $27,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Western Carolina University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,004 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $34,909. That is a strong return on a $24,004 median debt. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. History graduates carry a median of $24,457 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $33,791. That is a strong return on a $24,457 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Davidson College earned the #8 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,430 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #9 spot for history value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,800. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $28,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Appalachian State University landed the #10 spot for history value this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Students borrow a median of $20,400 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $28,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
East Carolina University landed the #11 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. History graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $33,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #12 among the best values for history. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $25,047 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University came in at #13 for value in history this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wake Forest University admits about 22% of applicants.
Duke University placed #14 among the best values for history. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. History graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. History graduates of Duke University earn a median of $60,750 early in their careers. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
High Point University earned the #15 position for value in history this year. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,312. Typical student debt for history graduates is $23,785. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Elon University earned the #16 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
