2027 Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Artificial Intelligence](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-information-systems-cis/artificial-intelligence/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for artificial intelligence students.
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2027 Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the artificial intelligence degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Artificial Intelligence Schools
Our analysis ranked Saint Marys University Of Minnesota the best value for a degree in artificial intelligence in the The Plains States Region. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $27,081. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $69,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
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. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $19,875. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $48,906. That is a strong return on a $19,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. 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. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Missouri University Of Science And Technology one of the best values for artificial intelligence. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. 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. That is a strong return on a $23,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri Southern State University earned it the #5 place for artificial intelligence. Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $22,241. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $39,434. Set against $22,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $24,438. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $60,397. That is a strong return on a $24,438 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #7 among the best values for artificial intelligence. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $20,625. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University landed the #8 spot for artificial intelligence value this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,871 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $76,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of South Dakota placed #9 among the best values for artificial intelligence. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $26,322. Artificial Intelligence graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $51,566 early in their careers. Set against $26,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned the #10 position for value in artificial intelligence this year. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Dakota State University came in at #11 for value in artificial intelligence this year. Set in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,654, compared with $12,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $72,367. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Dakota State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #12 among the best values for artificial intelligence. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for artificial intelligence value this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $37,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #14 for value in artificial intelligence this year. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. In-state tuition and fees average $41,778. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the artificial intelligence program here. Early-career artificial intelligence graduates make about $60,845. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Typical student debt for artificial intelligence graduates is $21,281. Artificial Intelligence graduates of Drake University earn a median of $69,835 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,281 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value artificial intelligence schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Artificial Intelligence graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Soon after graduation, artificial intelligence degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $99,071. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
