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2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

27 Ranked Colleges
334 Degrees Awarded
$16,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Education 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 General Education 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.

General Education is the 28th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,296 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 334 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education 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 general education 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.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

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

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value General Education 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 general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 17 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $11,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mizzou.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Education at University of Missouri - Columbia

#2

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 24 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $6,838 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis General Education Report

#3

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #3 spot on the list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It awarded 20 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,669 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.

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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus General Education Report

#4

Bethany Lutheran College

Mankato, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bethany Lutheran College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. BLC is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s general education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BLC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend BLC is $12,888 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bethany Lutheran College General Education Report

#5

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Louis University landed the #5 spot on the list. Saint Louis University is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 31 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $21,082 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SLU.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 2.9%, 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 full report on General Education at SLU

#6

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 19 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,089 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend K -State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full K -State General Education Report

#22 in overall quality

Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 12 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwest Minnesota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $11,410 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Southwest Minnesota State University

#8

Midland University

Fremont, Nebraska
#3 in overall quality

Midland University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Midland U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fremont, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Midland U, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Midland University is $16,324 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Midland U General Education Report

#9

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 13 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Lindenwood University also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,918 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at Lindenwood University

#10

Harris - Stowe State University

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #10, Harris - Stowe State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Harris - Stowe State University is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Harris - Stowe State University is $10,233 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Harris - Stowe State University

#11

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Hamline University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Hamline has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hamline University is $18,298 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 General Education at Hamline

#12

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Concordia College at Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moorhead, Minnesota. It awarded 3 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia College Moorhead, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia College Moorhead is $17,927 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Concordia College Moorhead

#13

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
#7 in overall quality

Bellevue University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Bellevue University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,777 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bellevue University.

Full Bellevue University General Education Report

#14

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Buena Vista University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BVU is a small school located in Storm Lake, Iowa that handed out 9 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

BVU also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for BVU is $12,773 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 full report on General Education at Buena Vista University

#15

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Rockhurst University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general education degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Rockhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rockhurst is $15,261 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Rockhurst University

#16

Peru State College

Peru, Nebraska

With a ranking of #16, Peru State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Peru State is a public institution located in Peru, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,946 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Peru State College.

Full Peru State College General Education Report

#17

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

Missouri Baptist University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. MBU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s general education degrees to qualified students.

MBU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,011 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri Baptist University.

Read full report on General Education at Missouri Baptist University

#18

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

Webster University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Webster also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Webster University is $20,081 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Webster University General Education Report

#19

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Loras College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Loras is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 1 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Loras has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loras is $17,094 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Loras College

#20

North Central University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

North Central University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Central University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Central University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central University is $17,984 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 full report on General Education at North Central University

#21

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Dordt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Dordt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Dordt University is $22,177 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Dordt

#22

Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Avila University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Avila University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 1 bachelors’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Avila also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $15,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Avila.

Full Avila General Education Report

#23

William Woods University

Fulton, Missouri
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, William Woods University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. William Woods University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fulton, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at William Woods, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William Woods University is $26,790 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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. 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%.

Full William Woods University General Education Report

#24

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Benedictine College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Atchison, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Benedictine College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,932 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Benedictine College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 Benedictine College General Education Report

#25

Tabor College

Hillsboro, Kansas
#20 in overall quality

Tabor College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Hillsboro, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general education degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Tabor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tabor College is $22,858 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Tabor General Education Report

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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