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2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region

18 Ranked Colleges
590 Degrees Awarded
$16,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 14,336 people earned their degree in computer software and applications, making the major the 84th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, computer software and applications graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,619 and had an average of $33,819 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 590 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,217 and $30,239 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in computer software and applications. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent computer software and applications programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

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The computer software school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region

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

Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified ’s computer software students in 2020-2021.

DMACC also made our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $9,557 for plains states region computer software students.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at DMACC

2

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #2 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region computer software students list, Minneapolis Community and Technical College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,908 for Plains States Region Computer Software students.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St Thomas Minnesota. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s computer software degrees to 136 students in 2020-2021.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $31,066 for plains states region computer software students per year to attend UST MN.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at UST MN

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region list. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.

JCCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Johnson County Community College is $13,371 for plains states region computer software students.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at JCCC

5
Dakota State crest
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dakota State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Madison, South Dakota, and it awarded 40 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dakota State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dakota State University is $18,630 for plains states region computer software students.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Dakota State

6
Butler CC crest
Butler Community College
El Dorado, Kansas

Butler Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. El Dorado, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Butler CC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Butler CC is $13,255 for Plains States Region Computer Software students.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Butler CC

7
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 32 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

Lindenwood University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $17,366 for plains states region computer software students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Full Lindenwood University Computer Software & Applications Report

8
Saint Paul College crest
Saint Paul College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Paul College is a medium-sized public school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 8 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

Saint Paul College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,507 for plains states region computer software students per year to attend Saint Paul College.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Saint Paul College

9

Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It awarded 3 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region computer software students list, Iowa Central Community College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $9,695 for Plains States Region Computer Software students.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at Iowa Central Community College

10

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 15 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region computer software students list, Northwest has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,925 for Plains States Region Computer Software students per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at Northwest Missouri State University

11
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s computer software students in 2020-2021.

UND also made our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $16,966 for plains states region computer software students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UND Computer Software & Applications Report

12

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s computer software degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region computer software students list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $18,505 for Plains States Region Computer Software 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 Computer Software & Applications at University of Minnesota - Duluth

13
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

With a ranking of #13, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region list. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 9 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region computer software students list, Kirkwood Community College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $9,906 for plains states region computer software students.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Kirkwood Community College

14
Dunwoody College of Technology crest
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region computer software students list, Dunwoody College of Technology has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dunwoody College of Technology is $27,100 for Plains States Region Computer Software students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at Dunwoody College of Technology

15
Normandale Community College crest
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minnesota

Normandale Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s computer software degrees to qualified students.

Normandale Community College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Normandale Community College is $10,854 for plains states region computer software students.

Full Normandale Community College Computer Software & Applications Report

16
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #16, Capella University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region list. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Capella University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Capella University is $16,545 for Plains States Region Computer Software students.

Full Capella University Computer Software & Applications Report

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Dubuque did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Dubuque is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 17 ’s computer software degrees in 2020-2021.

UD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $27,592 for Plains States Region Computer Software students per year to attend University of Dubuque.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at University of Dubuque

18

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References

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