2026 Best Value History Education Schools in Massachusetts

[History Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/history-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value history education schools.
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2026 Best Value History Education Schools in Massachusetts
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the history education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value History Education Schools
For return on investment in history education, no school beat Bridgewater State University this year. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $27,000. History Education graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,072 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Salem State University one of the best values for history education. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history education program here. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $59,390. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Gordon College one of the best values for history education. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $59,407. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gordon College admits about 69% of applicants.
Lesley University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,256. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $24,818. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $62,468. Set against $24,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in history education will find it at Merrimack College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,962. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $50,506. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. History Education graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $60,505. Set against $18,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
More History Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.