2026 Best Value Construction Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Construction Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/construction-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for construction management students.
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2026 Best Value Construction Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction Management Schools
For return on investment in construction management, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the construction management program here. Early-career construction management graduates make about $45,583. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value construction management schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Construction Management graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans. Construction Management graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Set against $15,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in construction management will find it at Dakota County Technical College, which ranked #3. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Construction Management graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans. Early-career construction management graduates make about $50,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value construction management schools. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Construction Management graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Early-career construction management graduates make about $43,444. Set against $15,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for construction management. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the construction management program here. Soon after graduation, construction management degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $68,698. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value construction management schools. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction management graduates is $24,750. Early-career construction management graduates make about $74,177. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #7 for value in construction management this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,983 to complete the construction management program here. Soon after graduation, construction management degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $75,705. Set against $23,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Park University came in at #8 for value in construction management this year. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,112 to complete the construction management program here. Soon after graduation, construction management degree recipients from Park University generally make around $52,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Kansas earned the #9 position for value in construction management this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for construction management graduates is $23,608. Soon after graduation, construction management degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #10 position for value in construction management this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Typical student debt for construction management graduates is $22,386. Construction Management graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #11 position for value in construction management this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,600 to complete the construction management program here. Early-career construction management graduates make about $73,731. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #12 among the best values for construction management. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Construction Management graduates carry a median of $21,764 in student loans. Construction Management graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $70,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,764 median debt. Minnesota State University Moorhead admits about 59% of applicants.
South Dakota State University earned the #13 position for value in construction management this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction management graduates is $24,989. Early-career construction management graduates make about $51,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #14 among the best values for construction management. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for construction management graduates is $26,499. Construction Management graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $75,682 early in their careers. Set against $26,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Pittsburg State University earned the #15 position for value in construction management this year. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Students borrow a median of $23,461 to complete the construction management program here. Early-career construction management graduates make about $69,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Dunwoody College Of Technology earned the #16 position for value in construction management this year. Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,477. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the construction management program here. Construction Management graduates of Dunwoody College Of Technology earn a median of $61,789 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
