2026 Best Value History Education Schools in the Southeast Region
[History Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/history-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools to find the best return on investment for history education students.
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2026 Best Value History Education Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in history education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value History Education Schools
Leading the list is Eastern Kentucky University, our #1 best value for history education in the Southeast Region. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $19,750. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $44,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earned it the #2 place for history education. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, while out-of-state students pay about $12,182. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith generally make around $40,525. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Appalachian State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,614 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $44,026. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Bryan College Dayton came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,800. Students borrow a median of $25,652 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $44,067. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Talladega College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Talladega, Talladega College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,650. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $31,062. Early-career history education graduates make about $27,568. That is a strong return on a $31,062 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University placed #6 among the best values for history education. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kennesaw State University came in at #7 for value in history education this year. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. History Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career history education graduates make about $45,243. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Emmanuel College Georgia ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the rural area of Franklin Springs, Emmanuel College Georgia is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,500. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $25,807. Early-career history education graduates make about $30,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emmanuel College Georgia admits about 74% of applicants.
Lee University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $29,625. Early-career history education graduates make about $48,056. Set against $29,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
North Greenville University placed #10 among the best values for history education. Located in the rural area of Tigerville, North Greenville University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,800. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $19,271. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from North Greenville University generally make around $42,864. Set against $19,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Piedmont College placed #11 among the best values for history education. Piedmont College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Demorest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,700. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $29,975. Early-career history education graduates make about $55,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Maryville College earned the #12 position for value in history education this year. Located in the suburb of Maryville, Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,284. Students borrow a median of $26,428 to complete the history education program here. Early-career history education graduates make about $42,971. That is a strong return on a $26,428 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Huntingdon College earned the #13 position for value in history education this year. Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $29,070. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $28,252. Early-career history education graduates make about $33,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Ferrum College placed #14 among the best values for history education. Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ferrum. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,380. History Education graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Ferrum College generally make around $29,100. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Campbell University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,600. History Education graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. History Education graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $54,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Reinhardt University came in at #16 for value in history education this year. Reinhardt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Waleska. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,074. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the history education program here. Soon after graduation, history education degree recipients from Reinhardt University generally make around $40,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Liberty University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value history education schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for history education graduates is $27,414. Early-career history education graduates make about $50,560. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
