2026 Best Value International Business Schools in the The Plains States Region
[International Business](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/international-business/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international business students.
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2026 Best Value International Business Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international business, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Business Schools
For return on investment in international business, no school beat University Of Nebraska Lincoln this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $22,386. Early-career international business graduates make about $47,534. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #2 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the best values for international business. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete the international business program here. Early-career international business graduates make about $53,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international business, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $21,818. Soon after graduation, international business degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international business, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $25,407. Soon after graduation, international business degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $60,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Augsburg College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value international business schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. International Business graduates carry a median of $26,319 in student loans. Early-career international business graduates make about $59,409. Set against $26,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value international business schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $91,065 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Drake University landed the #7 spot for international business value this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. International Business graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international business degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
