2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) 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. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,296 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,903 and $30,143 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 27 colleges that offer a degree in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #1 spot on the list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
Mizzou also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Gustavus Adolphus College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,150 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bethany Lutheran College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. BLC is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.
BLC also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bethany Lutheran College is $10,038 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Louis University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Saint Louis University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 31 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, SLU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SLU is $20,051 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 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. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on General Education at Saint Louis University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,232 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kansas State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on General Education at Kansas State University
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 24 bachelors’s 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. It costs about $7,401 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.
Full University of Missouri - St Louis General Education Report
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Southwest Minnesota State University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,801 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.
Full Southwest Minnesota State University General Education Report
Hamline University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Hamline did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline University is $17,038 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Midland University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Midland University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fremont, Nebraska. It awarded 44 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Midland U also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Midland U is $18,257 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Lindenwood University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $14,388 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Buena Vista University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Storm Lake, Iowa, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s 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 Buena Vista University is $14,210 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Rockhurst University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rockhurst University is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.
Rockhurst also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $14,869 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rockhurst.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.
Bellevue University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bellevue University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $14,933 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Harris - Stowe State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k 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 yearly cost to attend Harris - Stowe State University is $10,014 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Education at Harris - Stowe State University
Concordia College at Moorhead landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s 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. It costs about $17,881 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Concordia College Moorhead.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Concordia College Moorhead
Loras College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
Loras did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Loras College is $16,154 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.
With a ranking of #17, Webster University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
Webster did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,661 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Webster University.
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%.
Missouri Baptist University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MBU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
MBU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri Baptist University is $15,754 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Education at Missouri Baptist University
Peru State College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Peru, Nebraska, this small public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Peru State is $12,005 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Avila University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Avila University is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 1 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Avila also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,672 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Avila.
Dordt University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Sioux Center, Iowa, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Dordt has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dordt is $24,967 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Benedictine College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Atchison, Kansas, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s education degrees 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 $18,742 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Benedictine College.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
North Central University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. 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 $17,582 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 North Central University
With a ranking of #24, Tabor College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Hillsboro, Kansas, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Tabor also made our “Best General Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Tabor is $21,218 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
William Woods University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. William Woods is located in Fulton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.
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 is $21,691 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.
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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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