2026 Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Artificial Intelligence](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/artificial-intelligence/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong artificial intelligence education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value artificial intelligence schools.
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2026 Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in artificial intelligence, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #1 spot for value among artificial intelligence schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Artificial Intelligence graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a great value for students pursuing a degree in artificial intelligence, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $48,906. That is a strong return on a $19,875 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,984 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,619 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $76,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Southern State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $22,241 in student loans. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $39,434. That is a strong return on a $22,241 median debt. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in artificial intelligence, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $24,438 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $60,397 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Dakota State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Set in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $12,756. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Dakota State University earn a median of $72,367 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #7 for value in artificial intelligence this year. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,500, while out-of-state students pay about $14,900. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $78,193. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $69,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
The College Of Saint Scholastica landed the #9 spot for artificial intelligence value this year. Set in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,778. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from The College Of Saint Scholastica generally make around $60,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The College Of Saint Scholastica admits about 93% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $37,250 in student loans. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $80,588 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,250 median debt. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Drake University earned the #11 position for value in artificial intelligence this year. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $21,281 in student loans. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Drake University earn a median of $69,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.