2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
54
Ranked Colleges
3,291
Degrees Awarded
$13,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Education is the 31st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,291 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 54 colleges that offer a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education 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 general education 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.
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $8,697 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Read full report on General Education at University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 79 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $8,324 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at UMSL
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general education degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $11,427 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Education at Iowa State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 38 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,386 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.
Full Mizzou General Education Report
Out of the 54 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #5 spot on the list. MSU is located in Minot, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for MSU is $9,060 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Education at MSU
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 262 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, SMU MN has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,493 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 SMU MN General Education Report
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Gustavus Adolphus is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus College is $16,445 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Gustavus Adolphus
St Olaf College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
St. Olaf also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,138 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Olaf.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full St Olaf College General Education Report
Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 110 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwest Minnesota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,945 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Education at Southwest Minnesota State University
Winona State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Winona State University is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 32 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Winona State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $12,963 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Winona State
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $12,263 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad 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 Minnesota State University - Mankato General Education Report
Fort Hays State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 242 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $10,847 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend FHSU.
Read full report on General Education at Fort Hays State University
Northeast Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeast Community College is a public institution located in Norfolk, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,170 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northeast Community College.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Northeast
With a ranking of #14, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified ’s general education students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,151 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
Read full report on General Education at University of North Dakota
Lindenwood University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lindenwood University is located in Saint Charles, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 73 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $13,008 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 General Education Report
University of Iowa landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 27 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,508 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about General Education at Iowa
With a ranking of #17, Hamline University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 56 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hamline, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline is $17,386 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad 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 full report on General Education at Hamline
Bemidji State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $10,377 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Bemidji State University General Education Report
Buena Vista University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Storm Lake, Iowa, and it awarded 4 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Buena Vista University is $14,348 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Buena Vista University
Bellevue University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,911 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full Bellevue University General Education Report
Kansas State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $14,653 for plains states region 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 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Kansas State University General Education Report
Concordia College at Moorhead came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Concordia College at Moorhead is a small school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 7 ’s general education degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia College Moorhead also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,354 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Concordia College at Moorhead.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Concordia College Moorhead
University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general education degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,751 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City General Education Report
Rockhurst University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rockhurst is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
Rockhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rockhurst University is $15,034 for plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Rockhurst General Education Report
Martin Luther College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MLC is located in New Ulm, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, MLC has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MLC is $24,585 for Plains States Region General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at MLC
college factual
