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2023 Best Value Colleges for Hospitality Management in the Plains States Region

23 Ranked Colleges
749 Degrees Awarded
$15,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 17,689 people earned their degree in hospitality management, making the major the 66th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, hospitality management graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,874 and had an average of $22,906 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 749 hospitality management graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,019 and $24,679 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in hospitality management. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality hospitality management programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the hospitality management program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region.

Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Hospitality Management in the Plains States Region

1
Normandale Community College crest
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Normandale Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Normandale Community College is a public institution located in Bloomington, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Normandale Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $10,854 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

Read more about Hospitality Management at Normandale Community College

2
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellevue University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 71 ’s hospitality degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region hospitality students list, Bellevue University has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,288 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Hospitality Management at Bellevue University

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s hospitality degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,002 for plains states region hospitality students per year to attend Iowa State University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Iowa State University Hospitality Management Report

4
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kirkwood Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this fairly large public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s hospitality students in 2020-2021.

Kirkwood Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,906 for Plains States Region Hospitality students per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

Full Kirkwood Community College Hospitality Management Report

5
Butler CC crest
Butler Community College
El Dorado, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Butler Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Butler CC is a medium-sized school located in El Dorado, Kansas that handed out 3 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

Butler CC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Butler Community College is $13,255 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

Read more about Hospitality Management at Butler Community College

6

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 97 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also made our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $16,718 for Plains States Region Hospitality students per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Hospitality Management Report

7

With a ranking of #7, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s hospitality degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Western Iowa Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $8,309 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

Read more about Hospitality Management at Western Iowa Tech Community College

8

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s hospitality students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,998 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Hospitality Management at North Dakota State University

9
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s hospitality degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State also made our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $18,578 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State University Hospitality Management Report

10

Des Moines Area Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Des Moines Area Community College is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 5 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

DMACC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,557 for plains states region hospitality students per year to attend DMACC.

Read full report on Hospitality Management at DMACC

11

With a ranking of #11, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s hospitality students in 2020-2021.

Southwest Minnesota State University also made our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $13,872 for plains states region hospitality students.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Hospitality Management Report

12
Saint Paul College crest
Saint Paul College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Paul College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s hospitality degrees to qualified students.

Saint Paul College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Paul College is $11,507 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

Full Saint Paul College Hospitality Management Report

13

Johnson County Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. JCCC is a public institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JCCC, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,371 for plains states region hospitality students per year to attend JCCC.

Read more about Hospitality Management at JCCC

14
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Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Spearfish, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s hospitality degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

BHSU also took the #22 spot in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BHSU is $16,961 for plains states region hospitality students.

Read full report on Hospitality Management at BHSU

15
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 49 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region hospitality students list, K -State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,433 for Plains States Region Hospitality students per year to attend Kansas State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Hospitality Management at Kansas State University

16
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 14 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $14,581 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Hospitality Management Report

17
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s hospitality degrees to qualified students.

Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for plains states region hospitality students.

Read more about Hospitality Management at Southeast Missouri State University

18

Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 28 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

FHSU also made our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $13,189 for plains states region hospitality students.

Read more about Hospitality Management at Fort Hays State University

19

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. UNL is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 54 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,013 for plains states region hospitality students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Hospitality Management at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

20

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 77 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,559 for plains states region hospitality students per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Mizzou Hospitality Management Report

21
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UCM is a fairly large school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 3 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region hospitality students list, UCM has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $14,058 for plains states region hospitality students.

Read full report on Hospitality Management at University of Central Missouri

22
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region list. Stephens College is a small school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 6 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stephens, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $22,460 for plains states region hospitality students per year to attend Stephens.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Hospitality Management at Stephens College

23
Mount Mercy crest
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Hospitality Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Mount Mercy University is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 8 ’s hospitality degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region hospitality students list, Mount Mercy has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Hospitality Management Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mount Mercy is $22,668 for Plains States Region Hospitality students.

Full Mount Mercy University Hospitality Management Report

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