2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Microbiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/microbiology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong microbiology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for microbiology students.
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2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in microbiology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Microbiology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best value for a degree in microbiology in the The Plains States Region. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $23,685 in student loans. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $37,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiology schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $43,734. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value microbiology schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $25,941 in student loans. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $40,792. Set against $25,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #4 place for microbiology. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $17,227. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $35,523. That is a strong return on a $17,227 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in microbiology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $22,500. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $39,019. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #6 for value in microbiology this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Microbiology graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Iowa landed the #7 spot for microbiology value this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $24,463. Early-career microbiology graduates make about $57,375. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #8 spot for microbiology value this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $17,553. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 8 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.
