by our College Data Analytics Team
[History](/majors/history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for history students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the history degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in history, no school beat University Of Southern Maine this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $36,876. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bowdoin College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in history, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Typical student debt for history graduates is $20,658. Early-career history graduates make about $58,938. Set against $20,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 7%.
Students looking for strong value in history will find it at University Of Maine, which ranked #3. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, history degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $31,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #4 makes Colby College one of the best values for history. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. In-state tuition and fees average $69,600. Typical student debt for history graduates is $22,016. History graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 7%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bates College earned it the #5 place for history. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,590. History graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans. Early-career history graduates make about $43,933. That is a strong return on a $12,226 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.