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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

28 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 $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 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 $30-$48k” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

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

#2 in overall quality

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 Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Duluth are $28,606, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UMN Duluth General Education Report

#2

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minot State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 17 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minot State University are $9,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Minot State University

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 124 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwest Minnesota State University also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Minnesota State University are $8,526, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University General Education Report

#4

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#22 in overall quality

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Bemidji State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 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 Bemidji State University are $9,112.

Full Bemidji State University General Education Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 5 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Iowa State

With a ranking of #6, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 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 Fort Hays State University are $11,376.

Full Fort Hays State University General Education Report

#7

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #7, Winona State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 17 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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

With a ranking of #8, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Minnesota State Mankato General Education Report

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota 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 $30-$48k ranking. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at University of North Dakota

#10

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Augustana University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Augustana Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 128 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana Sioux Falls not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Augustana University are $36,480, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Augustana University

#11

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Fontbonne University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 21 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fontbonne University are $14,400.

Read full report on General Education at Fontbonne University

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 206 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, SMU MN has also earned the #1 rank 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota General Education Report

#13

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 26 students 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at University of Iowa

#14

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#4 in overall quality

Saint Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 7 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU also took the #4 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 SLU are $22,074.

Read more about General Education at Saint Louis University

#15

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 24 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

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.

Read full report on General Education at Hamline

#16

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, St Catherine University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St. Kate’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 6 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Kate’s also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St. Kate’s General Education Report

#17

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri

Rockhurst University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rockhurst University is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 2 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Rockhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rockhurst are $16,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Rockhurst University

#18

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri

Southwest Baptist University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Southwest Baptist University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 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 Southwest Baptist University are $5,423.

Full Southwest Baptist University General Education Report

#19

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas

With a ranking of #19, Baker University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Baker University is a small school located in Baldwin City, Kansas that handed out 70 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Baker has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baker are $11,844, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Baker

#20

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Grand View University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Grand View University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Des Moines, Iowa. It awarded 16 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Grand View University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand View University are $9,170, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Grand View University

#21

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bethel University Minnesota, the school also landed the #8 spot 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.

Read more about General Education at Bethel University Minnesota

#22

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, Kansas
#21 in overall quality

University of Saint Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. University of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Leavenworth, Kansas. It awarded 5 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

University of St. Mary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 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 University of St. Mary are $11,124.

Full University of Saint Mary General Education Report

#23

University of Northwestern - St Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Northwestern - St Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also took the #25 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $8,982, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Northwestern

#24

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

Martin Luther College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in New Ulm, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, MLC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Martin Luther College are $5,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Martin Luther College

#25

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Webster is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 14 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Webster also took the #14 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 Webster University are $13,500.

Full Webster 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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