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2023 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

39 Ranked Colleges
2,606 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 19,832 people earned their degree in curriculum and instruction, making the major the 55th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, curriculum and instruction graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $50,993 and had an average of $28,557 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,606 curriculum and instruction graduates with average earnings and debt of $49,920 and $29,500 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in curriculum and instruction. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great curriculum and instruction programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the curriculum and instruction program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Curriculum & Instruction Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 49 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $12,911 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Curriculum & Instruction at UMN Twin Cities

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 97 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $13,715 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full Mizzou Curriculum & Instruction Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $14,641 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Iowa State University Curriculum & Instruction Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 149 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwest has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $12,127 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Northwest

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Nebraska. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Concordia University, Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seward, Nebraska. It awarded 698 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Nebraska also took the #1 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Nebraska is $21,221 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Concordia University, Nebraska

6

Emporia State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. ESU is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 186 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ESU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,070 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Emporia State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at ESU

7
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Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

With a ranking of #7, Wayne State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Wayne, Nebraska, this small public school handed out 61 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

WSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,029 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend WSC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wayne State College Curriculum & Instruction Report

8
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Kansas State University is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 55 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,868 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Kansas State University.

The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at K -State

9

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMKC has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,768 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMKC.

The low undergrad 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 full report on Curriculum & Instruction at University of Missouri - Kansas City

10

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 46 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $15,394 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Curriculum & Instruction Report

11
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University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

KU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,586 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend KU.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full KU Curriculum & Instruction Report

12

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 31 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

SMU MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SMU MN is $18,683 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

13
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #13, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Charles, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Lindenwood University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $15,749 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 Curriculum & Instruction Report

14

With a ranking of #14, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 22 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,581 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wichita State University.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at WSU

15
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, Buena Vista University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. BVU is a small school located in Storm Lake, Iowa that handed out 42 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

BVU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,581 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Buena Vista University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at BVU

16

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a medium-sized public school situated in Moorhead, Minnesota. It awarded 55 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k list, MSU Moorhead has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,809 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MSU Moorhead Curriculum & Instruction Report

17
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 9 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UND also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $15,818 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UND.

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 Curriculum & Instruction Report

18
Peru State crest
Peru State College
Peru, Nebraska

Peru State College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Peru State College is a public institution located in Peru, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Peru State College is $13,839 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Peru State

19

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

UNK also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $16,311 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad 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 Curriculum & Instruction at University of Nebraska at Kearney

20

Concordia University, Saint Paul landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Saint Paul is $14,980 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Concordia University, Saint Paul

21

Missouri Southern State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Missouri Southern is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern State University is $10,215 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Missouri Southern Curriculum & Instruction Report

22
NSU crest
Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Northern State University is a small school located in Aberdeen, South Dakota that handed out 34 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northern State University is $18,273 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Curriculum & Instruction at Northern State University

23
Chadron State College crest
Chadron State College
Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Chadron, Nebraska, and it awarded 17 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,693 for Plains States Region Curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Chadron State College.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Chadron State College

24
Mount Marty crest
Mount Marty University
Yankton, South Dakota

With a ranking of #24, Mount Marty University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mount Marty is a small school located in Yankton, South Dakota that handed out 8 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Mount Marty University is $18,487 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Mount Marty University

25
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University of Jamestown
Jamestown, North Dakota

With a ranking of #25, University of Jamestown did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UJ is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jamestown, North Dakota. It awarded 29 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UJ also took the #15 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Jamestown is $18,341 for plains states region curriculum students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at University of Jamestown

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