10 Affordable Online History Degrees (2025)

Does studying about the past fascinate you? Perhaps you have a special interest in a particular century, era, or historical civilization.

You may want to study history to teach, work in a heritage museum, or write historical fiction novels. History can also be an entr? into professional careers such as law, government, public policy, journalism, or historic preservation.

If you're looking for an affordable online history degree, we can help you. Below, we list some of the leading universities that make bachelor's degrees in history available online.

List of Affordable History Degrees Online

1. Arizona State University

The online BA in history program at Arizona State University promises a fascinating journey through your coursework to achieve a better understanding of how social and cultural institutions and values have evolved over time to bring us to the current moment.

The coursework enables you to 'read eyewitness testimonies of major historical events, watch ?films that bring the past alive and mull over brilliantly-crafted historical monographs that challenge your preconceived ideas on ?war and peace, social and political unrest, the creation of families and gender roles.'

Tuition is about $304 per credit hour regardless of residency.

2. Indiana University

The faculty from Indiana University's many campuses collaboratively present the online BA in history program at a tuition cost of $290 per credit hour for Indiana residents and $390 for non-residents.

The program provides the intellectual tools to enable students to create historical interpretations with skills and knowledge of 'historical contexts, historiography, multiple perspectives, and continuity and change over time.'

Students may take courses in American, Latin American, Asian, Modern East Asian, African, Western European, Russian, and Eastern European history.

3. Louisiana State University Alexandria and Online

LSU offers an online Bachelor of Arts in history through its Alexandria campus or its online programs. Its goal is to prepare its graduates for careers in education and public history or for graduate programs in history and law.

The department encourages its history majors to sign up for internships.

The tuition cost per credit hour for the LSU online history degree is $325.

4. Oregon State University

Operating on a quarter system, Oregon State University's online BA in history program requires 180 credits to graduate. Tuition is $350 per credit.

Rather than lingering in the past, this history program emphasizes the importance of understanding contemporary global issues by studying patterns and relationships from history that contribute to the current situations.

The department offers a Public History Internship Program, original research projects using archival sources, and scholarships for history majors.

5. Penn State World Campus

In Penn State's online BA program in history, you could be taking upper-level courses such as:

• American Environmental History
• Constitutional History Since 1877
• Contemporary Middle East
• History of Imperialism and Nationalism in Africa
• History of Madness, Mental Illness, and Psychiatry
• The Holocaust
• Islamic States, Societies, and Cultures c. 600-1500
• Medieval Europe

Tuition is $626 for lower-division and $671 for upper-division courses per credit hour.

6. Southern New Hampshire University

You could earn a fully online BA in history degree through SNHU for $330 per credit (at 120 credits for the full four years or for a minimum of 30 credits if you transfer in up to 90 credits).

You may choose a concentration in American, European, Middle Eastern, or military history or you also can create your own concentration around a specific theme (e.g., African-American history).

The curriculum at SNHU emphasizes the connections between ancient and contemporary societies. Students enroll in a capstone research seminar and also have internship and experiential learning opportunities

7. University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida is home to one of the country's most affordable online history degree programs for in-state students.

History majors will take courses in both Western civilization and world civilization and they can customize their curriculum with coursework about the history of particular geographic regions, such as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Tuition for Florida residents is a remarkably low $179.19 per credit hour; tuition is $715.80 for out-of-state students.

8. University of Illinois Springfield

All history majors at the University of Illinois Springfield take courses in world history, comparative religion, European history, U.S. history, Middle Eastern history, and East Asian history.

The department also offers:

• an optional world history concentration
• an honors program for high-performing students to prepare for graduate or professional school
• internships to enable you to try out possible careers

Tuition is $367.50 per credit hour regardless of residency if you are accepted into an all-online program. Additional fees will apply.

9. University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland's online campus offers a BA in history with a choice of degree focus between U.S. history and world history.

Students may take courses such as The American West, African American History, The Roman Republic, History of the Contemporary Middle East, and the History of China.

Tuition is $318 per credit hour for in-state students and $499 for out-of-state students. Fees may be additional.

10. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

You may enroll in the online BA in history program for the full four-year degree or transfer credits and complete a degree here.

At UMass Dartmouth, all history majors study an array of historical locations, with at least two courses each in American and European history and three courses in histories of other areas of the world such as Latin America, Asia, Near East, Africa, and the ancient world.

Online tuition including fees adds up to $426 to $467 per credit hour.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor's Degree in History Cost?

Tuition varies greatly depending on whether you attend a public or private university and whether you qualify for in-state residency at public institutions. However, many schools waive the distinction between in and out-of-state residency with online programs.

The cost of the programs we list above averages between $300-400 per credit hour, although a few have even lower rates for in-state students, and some are much higher.

How To Make an Online History Degree Affordable

None of the above tuition rates takes into account any financial aid, discounts, or scholarships.

By all means, be sure to complete the FAFSA form to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid, and talk with your school's financial aid officers to see how you can lower your costs.

Is an Online History Degree Worth It?

The online history degrees from these notable universities provide rigorous training in the liberal arts, including not only content-related courses by region or time period but also courses in theory and research methods.

Earning an online degree in history will enhance your critical thinking skills and prepare you for a number of esteemed professions.

Find an Affordable Degree in History Online Today

Start here, with the schools in this article, to investigate which affordable online history degree might best fit your interests.