Top 18 Cheap Online Master's in History

Updated December 1, 2022

This list covers the 18 cheapest online master's degrees in history in this country (based on data from the U.S. Department of Education).

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This list covers the 18 cheapest online master's degrees in history in this country (based on data from the U.S. Department of Education), the majority of these schools' tuition rates are below the cost of a traditional college education. For your convenience, we have arrayed them in descending order of cost, with the most expensive school on the bottom, according to the tuition rate per credit hour. With a limited number of programs to rank, we forewent the traditional multifactorial approach and compiled this list soleley based on cheapness.

Top 18 Affordable Online Master's in History

  1. Fort Hays State University
    Location

    Hays, KS

    Tuition

    $9676

    Fort Hays State University has an online master of arts in history without thesis degree that is a 30-33 credit hour program that includes coursework in rural studies and Western history. With a student to faculty ratio of 16 to 1, the program requires satisfactory performance on the written comprehensive exam before matriculation. Fort Hays State University charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $287.75 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

  2. Missouri State University
    Location

    Springfield, MO

    Tuition

    $9.324

    Missouri State University has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 30 credit hour program that offers three tracks: American studies; global area studies; and US and the world. With a student to faculty ratio of 22 to 1, the program requires a recent GRE score and three letters of recommendation. Missouri State University charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $295 per credit hour for this program, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

  3. University of North Alabama
    Location

    Florence, AL

    Tuition

    $11736

    The University of North Alabama has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 51 quarter credit hour program that includes coursework in US history and world history. With a student to faculty ratio of 18 to 1, the program requires at least 24 hours of previous coursework in history. The University of North Alabama charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $326 per credit hour regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  4. University of Nebraska-Kearney
    Location

    Kearney, NE

    Tuition

    $11886

    The University of Nebraska-Kearney has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 36 credit hour program that includes coursework in early America and modern Europe. With a student to faculty ratio of 14 to 1, the program requires an accredited bachelor's degree with at least 18 hours in history. The University of Nebraska-Kearney offers an out of state, graduate tuition rate of $417.50 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

  5. Jackson State University
    Location

    Jackson, MS

    Tuition

    $7501

    Jackson State University has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 36 credit hour program that includes coursework in public history and the African diaspora. With a student to faculty ratio of 18 to 1, the program has a provisional acceptance program available for qualifying students. Jackson State University charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $462 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  6. Troy University
    Location

    Troy, AL

    Tuition

    $14292

    Troy University has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 36 credit hour program with coursework that includes Collaboration for Foundation, The Master Teacher, and Educational Technology in the Curriculum. With a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1, the program requires transcripts, letters of recommendation, and an application fee. Troy University offers an online, out of state, graduate tuition rate of $494 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  7. University of Louisiana at Monroe
    Location

    Monroe, LA

    Tuition

    $18590

    The University of Louisiana at Monroe has an online master of arts in history that is a 30 credit hour program with a thesis or non-thesis option. Coursework includes History of Warfare, The Makers of Europe, and Civil War Military History. With a student to faculty ratio of 21 to 1, the program requires GRE scores, a GPA of 2.5, and a minimum of 18 hours in undergraduate history courses. The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers an online, graduate tuition rate of $500 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  8. University of Massachusetts-Boston
    Location

    Boston, MA

    Tuition

    $32913

    The University of Massachusetts-Boston has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 30 credit hour program that includes coursework in research methods and introduction to historiography. With a student to faculty ratio of 16 to 1, the program requires three letters of recommendation and a writing sample with the admissions packet. The University of Massachusetts-Boston charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $575 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

  9. University of Memphis
    Location

    Memphis, TN

    Tuition

    $17604

    The University of Memphis has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 33 credit hour program that requires a comprehensive written exam for graduation with a thesis or non-thesis option. Courses include the following: African-American History; Global History; Egyptian History; and U.S. History after 1877. With a student to faculty ratio of 14 to 1, the program requires two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose. The University of Memphis charges an online, out of state, graduate tuition rate of $603 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  10. Liberty University
    Location

    Lynchburg, VA

    Tuition

    $8051

    Liberty University has an online master of arts in history degree that is a 36 credit hour program that includes the following courses: the Protestant Reformation; History of Slavery and Servitude in the Western World; and History of American Political Parties. With a student to faculty ratio of 19 to 1, the program requires transcripts and a statement of purpose for admission. Liberty University offers an online, graduate rate of $605 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Methodology: Here's How We Rank Schools

At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs. We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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