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2023 Most Focused Colleges for History in the Plains States Region

150 Ranked Colleges
1,798 Degrees Awarded
$25,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 32,731 people earned their degree in history, making the major the 23rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,467 and had an average of $23,587 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,798 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,406 and $25,596 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 150 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in history. That schools that top this list have a program in history in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank History Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More History Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The history school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region history students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for History in the Plains States Region

1
Grinnell crest
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grinnell College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region. Located in Grinnell, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Grinnell History Report

2
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 150 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Carleton College landed the #2 spot on the list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on History at Carleton College

3
Sterling College crest
Sterling College
Sterling, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sterling College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Sterling, Kansas, and it awarded 6 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Sterling College History Report

4
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cornell College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Mount Vernon, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Cornell College

5

Out of the 150 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Westminster College Missouri landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fulton, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on History at Westminster Fulton

6

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. UNK is a medium-sized school located in Kearney, Nebraska that handed out 55 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at UNK

7
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. BHSU is a small school located in Spearfish, South Dakota that handed out 21 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about History at Black Hills State University

8
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on History at St Olaf College

9
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri

College of the Ozarks did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Hard Work U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Point Lookout, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Hard Work U History Report

10
Central crest
Central College
Pella, Iowa

Central College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Central College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pella, Iowa. It awarded 8 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Central College

11
William Jewell crest
William Jewell College
Liberty, Missouri

William Jewell College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. William Jewell College is located in Liberty, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at William Jewell

12
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Indianola, Iowa. It awarded 10 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Simpson College History Report

13
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school awarded 36 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Truman State History Report

14
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 12 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Gustavus Adolphus

15
Coe crest
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coe College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about History at Coe College

16
BLC crest
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, Minnesota

Bethany Lutheran College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Bethany Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 3 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on History at Bethany Lutheran College

17
McPherson College crest
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas

With a ranking of #17, McPherson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. McPherson, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at McPherson College

18
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Decorah, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Luther College

19

Ottawa University - Online came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Ottawa, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on History at Ottawa University - Online

20
Hastings crest
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska

Hastings College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Hastings is located in Hastings, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hastings College History Report

21

University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Morris History Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region list. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a small school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 11 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Nebraska Wesleyan University History Report

23
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Tabor is a small school located in Hillsboro, Kansas that handed out 3 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at Tabor College

24
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Loras is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 8 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Loras College

25
Culver - Stockton crest
Culver - Stockton College
Canton, Missouri

Culver - Stockton College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Canton, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

Full Culver - Stockton College History Report

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