2027 Best Value History Schools in Virginia
[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 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value history schools.
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2027 Best Value History Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Schools
Our analysis ranked Radford University the best value for a degree in history in Virginia. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. History graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $28,239. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Old Dominion University earned it the #2 place for history. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $36,733. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at Virginia Military Institute, which ranked #3. Virginia Military Institute is a small public school located in the town of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,046, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. Typical student debt for history graduates is $19,500. History graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn a median of $42,543 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of William And Mary earned it the #4 place for history. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $31,595. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 34%.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for history graduates is $24,625. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $38,921. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $16,090 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Bridgewater College generally make around $32,771. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Longwood University placed #7 among the best values for history. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $37,404. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #8 spot for history value this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $19,352 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $34,028. That is a strong return on a $19,352 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
University Of Mary Washington placed #9 among the best values for history. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. Students borrow a median of $23,018 to complete the history program here. History graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $31,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Regent University landed the #10 spot for history value this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $50,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Hampden Sydney College landed the #11 spot for history value this year. Set in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney, Hampden Sydney College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Hampden Sydney College generally make around $42,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hampden Sydney College admits about 41% of applicants.
James Madison University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the history program here. History graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $29,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Christopher Newport University came in at #13 for value in history this year. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, compared with $31,178 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $29,386. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Washington And Lee University placed #14 among the best values for history. Located in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $20,074. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Washington And Lee University generally make around $76,810. That is a strong return on a $20,074 median debt. Washington And Lee University admits about 14% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. History graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. History graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $29,794 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Roanoke College earned the #16 position for value in history this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,068. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $25,940. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #17 spot for history value this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Typical student debt for history graduates is $20,499. History graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $33,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Liberty University landed the #18 spot for history value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $39,823. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Richmond placed #19 among the best values for history. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $21,634. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. That is a strong return on a $21,634 median debt. The acceptance rate is 22%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
