History is looking into the past and understanding the world through different perspectives or ideas. Those interested in pursuing legal careers, becoming historians, or traveling the world as an archivist will need a reputable degree. Discovering the right online college history degree program can be an overwhelming task. Due to this, we’ve compiled a list of the higher education institutions with the best and cheapest online history degrees.
The history program degrees below will expand your knowledge and help you to view cultures, politics, and religions in a new light. Each university’s best online bachelor or post-graduate history degree will teach you critical skills that employers are looking for. These skills will be tested in different ways, internships, studying abroad, or as research assistants. These developed attributes are valuable items that can be added to a resume which will increase the chances of graduating with a job in your field of choice. Graduating from one of these top-tier post-secondary universities will leave you feeling successful and proud to have earned your online history degree cheap.
Online History Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Methodology
All schools considered for these rankings
- Are regionally or nationally accredited
- Offer at least one fully online history degree (with no more than two weeks of required in-person work)
- Were collected from official accrediting agency websites.
Schools are ranked solely by the average net price as released in the most recent IPEDs database collected in 2022
2023 Most Affordable Online Colleges for History Degrees
| Rank | School | Average Net Price |
| #1 | Florida International University | $5,298 |
| #2 | Columbia College | $7,921 |
| #3 | University of Central Florida | $8,618 |
| #4 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | $8,961 |
| #5 | Indiana University-South Bend | $9,646 |
| #6 | American Public University System | $10,563 |
| #7 | University of Maine at Presque Isle | $10,823 |
| #8 | Clayton State University | $11,663 |
| #9 | The Baptist College of Florida | $11,972 |
| #10 | SUNY Empire State College | $11,995 |
| #11 | Fort Hays State University | $13,189 |
| #12 | West Virginia University | $13,355 |
| #13 | Southeast Missouri State University | $13,568 |
| #14 | University of North Alabama | $13,699 |
| #15 | Granite State College | $13,725 |
| #16 | University of Idaho | $13,964 |
| #17 | Eastern Oregon University | $14,436 |
| #18 | Troy University | $14,992 |
| #19 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | $16,065 |
| #20 | Saint Leo University Online | $18,445 |
| #21 | Drury University | $18,736 |
| #22 | King University | $22,535 |
| #23 | King University | $26,746 |
10 Best Affordable Colleges for Online History Degrees
1. Florida International University
Average Net Price: $5,298
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Florida International University is Miami’s only research college. Research is emphasized as an important aspect of the university’s mission. FIU provides programs in all areas and has undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate-level degrees. They pride themselves on being a top-tier institution that finds solutions for the world’s most challenging issues.
Florida International University offers a degree program for those seeking an online bachelor’s, online master’s, or online Ph.D. in history. You’ll develop needed skills, including interpreting the past and examining political science correctly. Beginning in freshman year, students are given the chance to take part in studying abroad or contributing to a historical internship. These opportunities allow you to apply your newfound skills.
2. Columbia College
Average Net Price: $7,921
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
For 160 years, Columbia College is a liberal arts college that has been devoted to enriching the lives of those they educate. Columbia College keeps a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, which allows each student valuable time to truly understand what they’re learning. CC has been recognized as Missouri’s “College of Distinction.” This is proven often as they’re always actively looking to better their education and school community.
Columbia College has been named one of the best online schools to attend. Among their many online programs, their history degree is like none other. World history is understanding the past and figuring out who we are. Really contributing to history is practicing research, writing, and analyzing the world. In their online history program, you’ll gain these attributes so you can go on to be a politician, a historian, or even go into television.
3. University of Central Florida
Average Net Price: $8,618
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 45%
The University of Central Florida is a public university located in Orlando, Florida. It is the largest university in the United States and one of the largest universities in the world. The University of Central Florida has a mission to be recognized as an internationally recognized institution that develops global citizens who are ready to live, work, and learn anywhere on Earth. UCF is a public research university that provides opportunities to every individual and serves communities in the process. It helps people discover new ideas and innovations while propelling a greater level of prosperity. U.S. News and World Report ranked UCF #15 in Most Innovative Schools and #67 in Top Public Schools. Niche.com gave the university a grade rating of A for its academics, value, and diversity.
The University of Central Florida offers a Bachelor of Arts in History degree online. This is a four-year program that provides history majors with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the major issues and events that have shaped history from both a global and local perspective. Students who complete this program will be prepared for graduate study or employment in fields such as law, business administration, education, criminal justice and government. The University of Central Florida offers an online master of arts in history degree. The program is designed to help history majors gain the knowledge and skills they need to pursue careers in historical research, teaching, and writing. Students can choose to focus on one specific area of history or take an online course that covers different areas. Students can also choose from a number of concentrations, including American History, European History, Latin American Studies, and Ancient Greece and Rome.
4. Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
Average Net Price: $8,961
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Eastern New Mexico University was established in 1934 in beautiful Portales, New Mexico. Today the university upholds a standard of providing a rich education that instills a passion into each student. ENMU keeps a student population of 5,268 with a student-to-faculty rate of 17:1. ENMU keeps a student satisfaction rate of 97%.
Eastern New Mexico University has two degrees history majors can choose from, a Bachelor of Science in History or a Bachelor of Arts in History. This gives student’s the opportunity to choose exactly what area of history they’re interested in pursuing. In both history programs, you’ll foster a spirit of curiosity and learn how to be more open-minded to suggestions. Earning a history degree will develop strong communication and analytic skills to assist you in entering any workforce.
5. Indiana University-South Bend
Average Net Price: $9,646
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Indiana University at South Bend is where inspiration is found. The university keeps a small college community so that every student feels welcomed. Smaller college life gives way to a flourishing imagination and a building sense of pride while finding your purpose. Indiana University offers more than 100 degrees to choose from and keeps a strong acceptance rate of 87%.
Indiana University’s history program has a goal of educating students to be “informed and engaged citizens.” In this history program, you’ll gain knowledge about cultures across the globe and how they work together or against one another. You’ll learn how to analyze data and see patterns and relationships throughout history. IU’s history degree ensures you’ll get advanced skills to assist in you becoming the best in your career field.
6. American Public University System
Average Net Price: $10,563
School Type: For-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
American Public University System is home to over 86,293 students. The university was founded in 1991 with the idea of wanting to provide an education to all through a high-quality online school. With APUS being 100% online, students have the opportunity to choose when and how they do their schooling.
APUS offers a unique history degree program that will challenge you to see different perspectives. Many of the professors in this history program are historians with published work, they’ll bring in new ideas and relevant research that will strike a passion inside of each student. Before graduating, you’ll complete a research proposal, which allows history majors to practice their skills and boost their resumes for job opportunities.
7. University of Maine at Presque Isle
Average Net Price: $10,823
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: NECHE
Acceptance Rate: 99%
The University of Maine at Presque Isle promises to uphold excellence that supports every student’s personal journey. UMPI was founded in 1903 and has kept a small but welcoming community. The university accommodates 1,400 students today from both the United States and Canada. Located in a gorgeous small town in Maine, you’ll feel like you’re home when you step onto campus.
UMPI has a very unique history degree, this history program will keep you engaged and an active learner all the way up until graduation. What makes their history program so interesting is the involvement of the faculty and history majors. In some of the classes, students get to participate in reenacting history. This kind of hands-on experience helps students process information in a much more tangible way.
8. Clayton State University
Average Net Price: $11,663
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Clayton State University was established in 1969 with a mission to empower students on their way to reaching their dreams. CSU has 43 undergraduate and 8 graduate programs for students to choose from. The university values its students and makes it a priority to give individualized time to each student. You’ll feel confident in what you’re learning and feel proud of all your success at Clayton State University.
CSU’s online history program has been recognized as one of the best online history programs in the nation. What makes this history program different from other history programs is diversity in the classroom. Clayton State University’s history program ingrains the high demand for essential skills that employers are looking for. You’ll become a more rounded individual as you develop skills such as novel/adaptive thinking, emotional/social intelligence, quantitative fluency, and ethical reasoning.
9. The Baptist College of Florida
Average Net Price: $11,764
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 76%
The Baptist College of Florida is an institution centered around its student’s personal growth. This growth occurs through a desire to acquire new knowledge, develop ways to evaluate information and understand social maturity. BCF keeps an acceptance rate of 76% and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.
Being a Christian school, BCF focuses on the social science of history from a very religious perspective, including classes for the study of Christian history exclusively. They offer a variety of classes to help students learn more about the history of their beliefs and ways to apply such knowledge to their lives in the modern world. BCF is proud to provide a foundation on which students can build in graduate professional studies and seminary programs.
10. SUNY Empire State College
Average Net Price: $11,995
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: MSCHE
Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
SUNY Empire State College is a comprehensive public institution of higher education. The college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. The college has a diverse student body that is composed of students from upstate New York and around the world. Its faculty members are dedicated to providing students with an excellent education while offering them opportunities for personal growth through research and creative pursuits. Niche.com gave SUNY Empire State College a grade rating of B- for its diversity and value.
SUNY Empire State College offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in history. A lot of students are interested in this history degree program because it is a great way to get the history major they need to do anything from teaching to working in the government. SUNY Empire State College offers an online master of arts history degree. The online program is designed to provide any online student with a thorough grounding in the fields of history and related humanistic disciplines, as well as in the skills needed for advanced research and teaching. SUNY offers both history degree programs online, which allows students to earn their higher education degree without having to leave home or spend time commuting back and forth from school every day. The flexibility offered by this history program allows students more time for family and other personal responsibilities.