2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region
14
Ranked Colleges
594
Degrees Awarded
$16,100
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 18,325 people earned their degree in information science, making the major the 58th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $59,394 and had an average of $28,852 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 594 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,238 and $25,345 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in information science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality information science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the information science program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region is students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dakota State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region. Dakota State is a small public school situated in Madison, South Dakota. It awarded 66 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,630 for Plains States Region IS students per year to attend Dakota State University.
Read full report on Information Science at Dakota State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellevue University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska. It awarded 69 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region is students list, Bellevue University has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $17,288 for plains states region is students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Bellevue University Information Science Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a public institution located in Alexandria, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
ATCC also made our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Alexandria Technical & Community College is $13,636 for plains states region is students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Information Science at ATCC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wayne State College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. WSC is a small school located in Wayne, Nebraska that handed out 20 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
WSC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,141 for plains states region is students per year to attend Wayne State College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Information Science at WSC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 91 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region is students list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $13,914 for Plains States Region IS students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UNOMAHA Information Science Report
Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s IS degrees to 51 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region is students list, Metro State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $16,044 for plains states region is students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Information Science at Metropolitan State University
Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 35 degrees to qualified ’s IS students in 2020-2021.
MSU Moorhead also took the #7 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $17,680 for Plains States Region IS students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Information Science at MSU Moorhead
With a ranking of #8, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and it awarded 10 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
ESU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ESU is $14,794 for plains states region is students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full ESU Information Science Report
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 ’s IS degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region is students list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region IS students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Information Science at UMN Twin Cities
Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri University of Science and Technology also took the #1 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology is $12,964 for Plains States Region IS students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Information Science Report
Fort Hays State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s IS degrees to qualified students.
FHSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fort Hays State University is $13,189 for Plains States Region IS students.
Full FHSU Information Science Report
With a ranking of #12, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s IS degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMU MN, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SMU MN is $21,101 for Plains States Region IS students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Information Science at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Luther College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Decorah, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 16 degrees to qualified ’s IS students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region is students list, Luther has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $25,538 for Plains States Region IS students per year to attend Luther College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Luther College Information Science Report
With a ranking of #14, Grantham University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value IS Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lenexa, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s IS degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Grantham University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Information Science Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,245 for Plains States Region IS students per year to attend Grantham University.
Read full report on Information Science at Grantham University
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
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