2026 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Hospitality Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong hospitality management education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools to find the best return on investment for hospitality management students.
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2026 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
Leading the list is Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, our #1 best value for hospitality management 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, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,281 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $46,660. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $25,967. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $34,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in hospitality management will find it at Southeast Missouri State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $34,395 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value hospitality management 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, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $22,250. 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.
Students looking for strong value in hospitality management will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #5. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $25,594. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $34,863. That is a strong return on a $25,594 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #6 for value in hospitality management this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $42,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Iowa State University came in at #7 for value in hospitality management this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $20,998. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #8 for value in hospitality management this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $38,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Iowa landed the #9 spot for hospitality management value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. 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 hospitality management graduates is $26,642. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $36,752. Set against $26,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Mount Mercy University landed the #10 spot for hospitality management value this year. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $40,878. Hospitality Management graduates carry a median of $27,709 in student loans. Hospitality Management graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Mercy University admits about 82% of applicants.
Bellevue University came in at #11 for value in hospitality management this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit university. 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.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
