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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

40 Ranked Colleges
2,296 Degrees Awarded
$11,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Computer Science is the 19th most popular major in the country with 53,722 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, computer science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,561 and had an average of $23,565 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,769 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,148 and $20,969 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,296 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 40 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer science programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the computer science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s compsci degrees to 180 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $6,248 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Washington University in St Louis Computer Science Report

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $3,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Morris Computer Science Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s compsci degrees to 462 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,418 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Computer Science at UMN Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Olaf College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. St. Olaf is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

St. Olaf did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $12,276 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full St. Olaf Computer Science Report

#5

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Carleton College landed the #5 spot on the list. Carleton College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 71 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton is $9,358 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 Carleton Computer Science Report

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 76 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,992 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 Computer Science at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#7

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Grinnell College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Grinnell, Iowa, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Grinnell also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $14,818 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grinnell.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Science at Grinnell College

Iowa State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 124 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $10,843 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read more about Computer Science at Iowa State

#9

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $6,838 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Missouri - St Louis

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 49 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $11,274 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Computer Science at St. Cloud State University

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 85 degrees to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $12,544 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 more about Computer Science at North Dakota State University

#12

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Saint Paul, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul is $13,288 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Computer Science at Concordia University, Saint Paul

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 81 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $11,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNOMAHA.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#14

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Winona State University is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 58 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k list, Winona State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $13,606 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Computer Science at Winona State

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

UNI also took the #18 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,495 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Science at UNI

#16

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

Saint Johns University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SJU is a small school located in Collegeville, Minnesota that handed out 19 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Johns University is $15,628 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Read full report on Computer Science at Saint Johns University

With a ranking of #17, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,410 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read full report on Computer Science at Southwest Minnesota State University

#18

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

With a ranking of #18, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 8 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $11,658 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Computer Science at Bemidji State University

#19

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Simpson College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Indianola, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Simpson College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,323 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Simpson College.

The low 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%.

Read more about Computer Science at Simpson College

#20

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 95 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,553 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UMKC Computer Science Report

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k list, Missouri State has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $13,488 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Computer Science at Missouri State

#22

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #22, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Central Missouri is located in Warrensburg, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UCM is $12,022 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Central Missouri Computer Science Report

#23

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s compsci degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gustavus Adolphus, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $11,669 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Read more about Computer Science at Gustavus Adolphus

#24

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $21,082 for plains states region bachelor’s degree compsci students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Louis University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Computer Science at Saint Louis University

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $12,279 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree CompSci students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read more about Computer Science at MSU Moorhead

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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