2027 Best Best Schools in the The Plains States Region
Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Best in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Western Iowa Tech Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in best. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 14 best degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $26,355 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,886 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in best from Western Iowa Tech Community College
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 13 best degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $53,134 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
See the full best program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Southeast Technical Institute is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. There were roughly 23 best students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Technical Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $48,654. Southeast Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $18,442 in student loans.
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Ridgewater College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #4 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Willmar. There were roughly 42 best students who graduated with this degree at Ridgewater College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $37,141 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,171.
See the full best program report for Ridgewater College
North Dakota State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fargo. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 best students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $36,814. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #6 for best this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City awarded about 43 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $37,631 early in their careers. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City graduates carry a median of $7,934 in student loans.
See the full best program report for Metropolitan Community College Kansas City
Dakota County Technical College placed #7 among the best best schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Rosemount. There were roughly 41 best students who graduated with this degree at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Dakota County Technical College earn around $36,866 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,255.
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Des Moines Area Community College landed the #8 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 16 best degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $38,962. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete this degree.
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Kirkwood Community College landed the #9 spot for best this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 15 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans.
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Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rochester. There were roughly 19 best students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Rochester Community And Technical College earn around $38,817 in the first couple years of their career. Rochester Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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Jefferson College earned the #11 position for best this year. Jefferson College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. There were roughly 23 best students who graduated with this degree at Jefferson College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $47,560. Typical student debt for the program is $13,664.
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Colby Community College came in at #12 for best this year. Set in the town of Colby, Colby Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 17 best students who graduated with this degree at Colby Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $36,184 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture earned the #13 position for best this year. Set in the rural area of Curtis, Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a small public institution. There were roughly 34 best students who graduated with this degree at Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture earn a median of $32,793 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,625.
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Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #14 for best this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar generally make around $39,833. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Iowa Community College District earned the #15 position for best this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. About 12 best degrees were awarded at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $31,017 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,484 to complete this degree.
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Moberly Area Community College came in at #16 for best this year. Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Moberly. Moberly Area Community College awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Moberly Area Community College earn around $44,755 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,507.
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Iowa Lakes Community College earned the #17 position for best this year. Set in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Iowa Lakes Community College awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Iowa Lakes Community College generally make around $46,937. Iowa Lakes Community College graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans.
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Iowa Western Community College came in at #18 for best this year. Iowa Western Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $43,444 in their early career. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans.
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Wichita Area Technical College placed #19 among the best best schools. Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita. About 15 best degrees were awarded at Wichita Area Technical College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $32,901 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,118.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 schools evaluated.
- 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.
