2027 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Hospitality Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for hospitality management students.
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2027 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in hospitality management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Hospitality Management Schools
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earned the #1 spot for value among hospitality management schools in the The Plains States Region. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for hospitality management. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $41,681. That is a strong return on a $15,779 median debt.
Normandale Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value hospitality management schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,329. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $20,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Fort Hays State University one of the best values for hospitality management. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $25,967. Hospitality Management graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $34,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,967 median debt. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bellevue University earned it the #5 place for hospitality management. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $27,852. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $61,548. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #6 spot for hospitality management value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $39,689 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #7 among the best values for hospitality management. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,594 to complete the hospitality management program here. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $34,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #8 among the best values for hospitality management. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $20,998 to complete the hospitality management program here. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,743. Set against $20,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University placed #9 among the best values for hospitality management. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $25,000. Hospitality Management graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $42,073 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value hospitality management schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,878. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $50,431. Set against $27,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value hospitality management schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $38,916. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Iowa earned the #12 position for value in hospitality management this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $26,642 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $36,752. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
