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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

30 Ranked Colleges
2,373 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Education is the 35th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,373 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 30 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #1 spot on the list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Duluth are $28,606, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#2

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. MSU is located in Minot, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

MSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MSU are $9,936.

Read more about General Education at Minot State University

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Iowa State

#4

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State University are $12,378.

Read full report on General Education at Winona State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fort Hays State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large public school situated in Hays, Kansas. It awarded 187 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

FHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FHSU are $11,376.

Read more about General Education at FHSU

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 124 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Southwest Minnesota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Minnesota State University are $8,526, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University General Education Report

#7

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#22 in overall quality

Bemidji State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bemidji State University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bemidji State University are $9,112, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Bemidji State University General Education Report

#8

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UND also took the #0 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326.

Full UND General Education Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 18 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788.

Read more about General Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 26 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at University of Iowa

#11

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Fontbonne University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fontbonne University are $14,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Fontbonne University General Education Report

#12

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#4 in overall quality

Saint Louis University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SLU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 7 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SLU are $22,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Saint Louis University

With a ranking of #13, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SMU MN is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 206 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU MN also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota are $10,260, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota General Education Report

#14

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Augustana University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 128 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Augustana Sioux Falls has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Augustana University are $36,480, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Augustana University

#15

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hamline is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hamline, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hamline are $11,577.

Full Hamline General Education Report

#16

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri

Rockhurst University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rockhurst is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 2 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Rockhurst has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rockhurst University are $16,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Rockhurst General Education Report

#17

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#24 in overall quality

St Catherine University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Kate’s are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at St. Kate’s

#18

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#23 in overall quality

Grand View University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 16 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand View University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand View University are $9,170, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Grand View University General Education Report

#19

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas

Baker University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Baldwin City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 70 students in 2019-2020.

Baker not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baker are $11,844, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Baker

#20

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, Kansas
#21 in overall quality

University of Saint Mary came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Leavenworth, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

University of St. Mary also took the #21 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St. Mary are $11,124, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at University of St. Mary

#21

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Webster also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Webster University are $13,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Webster General Education Report

#22

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri

With a ranking of #22, Southwest Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwest Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bolivar, Missouri. It awarded 73 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwest Baptist University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Baptist University are $5,423, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Southwest Baptist University

#23

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 31 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Bethel University Minnesota has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bethel University Minnesota are $11,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Bethel University Minnesota General Education Report

#24

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Martin Luther College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New Ulm, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

MLC also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at MLC are $5,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at MLC

#25

University of Northwestern - St Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#25 in overall quality

University of Northwestern - St Paul came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northwestern - St Paul are $8,982, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Northwestern

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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

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