by our College Data Analytics Team
[History](/majors/history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for history students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in history, no school beat Grinnell College this year. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,196. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the history program here. History graduates of Grinnell College earn a median of $39,687 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #2. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. History graduates carry a median of $21,776 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $27,569. That is a strong return on a $21,776 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #3 place for history. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $26,007 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $41,294. That is a strong return on a $26,007 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
A rank of #4 makes Loras College one of the best values for history. Set in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,824 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for history graduates is $26,528. History graduates of Loras College earn a median of $43,117 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #5 place for history. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. History graduates carry a median of $25,978 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $33,117. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell College landed the #6 spot for history value this year. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,660. Typical student debt for history graduates is $27,000. Early-career history graduates make about $35,545. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Drake University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value history schools. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the history program here. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.