2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agriculture-veterinary-prep/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Northwest Missouri State University the best value for a degree in value in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Value graduates carry a median of $23,585 in student loans. Value graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Set against $23,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,500. Value graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Value graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
