2027 Best Value Accounting and Finance Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Accounting and Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/accounting/accounting-and-finance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for accounting and finance students.
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2027 Best Value Accounting and Finance Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in accounting and finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Accounting and Finance Schools
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among accounting and finance schools in the The Plains States Region. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Accounting And Finance graduates carry a median of $17,650 in student loans. Accounting And Finance graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $38,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri St Louis one of the best values for accounting and finance. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,300 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Accounting And Finance graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #3 place for accounting and finance. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,394 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Soon after graduation, accounting and finance degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $55,360. That is a strong return on a $23,394 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting and finance schools. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,780 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Early-career accounting and finance graduates make about $61,280. Set against $24,780 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value accounting and finance schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $20,707 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Soon after graduation, accounting and finance degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $64,957. That is a strong return on a $20,707 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis placed #6 among the best values for accounting and finance. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Accounting And Finance graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Accounting And Finance graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University placed #7 among the best values for accounting and finance. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the accounting and finance program here. Early-career accounting and finance graduates make about $65,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
