by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for history students.
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 American Public University System the best value for a degree in history in West Virginia. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,160 to complete the history program here. Early-career history graduates make about $49,776. That is a strong return on a $23,160 median debt.
West Virginia University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. History graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $24,215. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.