[Historic Preservation](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/historic-preservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong historic preservation education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for historic preservation students.
Finding the Best Value Historic Preservation School for You
The historic preservation program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Historic Preservation Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Historic Preservation Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
For return on investment in historic preservation, no school beat University Of Georgia this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Historic Preservation graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, historic preservation degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $49,925. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for historic preservation. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for historic preservation graduates is $13,426. Early-career historic preservation graduates make about $84,850. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware is a great value for students pursuing a degree in historic preservation, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Historic Preservation graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Early-career historic preservation graduates make about $54,155. Set against $24,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #4 place for historic preservation. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical student debt for historic preservation graduates is $24,094. Soon after graduation, historic preservation degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes College Of Charleston one of the best values for historic preservation. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,978, with out-of-state students paying around $38,296. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the historic preservation program here. Historic Preservation graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $35,326 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University placed #6 among the best values for historic preservation. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Historic Preservation graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Historic Preservation graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #7 position for value in historic preservation this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the historic preservation program here. Early-career historic preservation graduates make about $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Mary Washington earned the #8 position for value in historic preservation this year. 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, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the historic preservation program here. Early-career historic preservation graduates make about $43,243. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main came in at #9 for value in historic preservation this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for historic preservation graduates is $25,103. Historic Preservation graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $38,569 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,103 median debt. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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).
[Historic Preservation](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/historic-preservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong historic preservation education at a price that pays off.
