2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
54
Ranked Colleges
3,291
Degrees Awarded
$17,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 29,810 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 41st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,291 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $44,616 and $27,696 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 54 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region education students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 79 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
UMSL also took the #25 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,232 for plains states region education students with aid per year to attend UMSL.
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 University of Missouri - St Louis
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region education students with aid list, Iowa State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $16,002 for plains states region education students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full Iowa State University General Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 38 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,559 for Plains States Region Education students with aid per year to attend Mizzou.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Read full report on General Education at Mizzou
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. MSU is a small school located in Minot, North Dakota that handed out 23 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Minot State University is $12,205 for plains states region education students with aid.
Read more about General Education at Minot State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Winona State also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $17,634 for plains states region education students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Winona State University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 262 students in 2020-2021.
SMU MN also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $21,101 for plains states region education students with aid per year to attend SMU MN.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $17,159 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
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
With a ranking of #8, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 110 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Southwest Minnesota State University also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $13,872 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
Read more about General Education at Southwest Minnesota State University
Fort Hays State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 242 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Fort Hays State University is $13,189 for plains states region education students with aid.
Read more about General Education at FHSU
Bellevue University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and it awarded 3 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $17,288 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Bellevue University
University of Iowa ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 27 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $19,401 for plains states region education students with aid per year to attend Iowa.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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 full report on General Education at Iowa
University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 13 students 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. It costs about $18,505 for plains states region education students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.
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 more about General Education at UMN Duluth
Hamline University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 56 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Hamline did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hamline is $20,474 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
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%.
Read more about General Education at Hamline
With a ranking of #14, Northeast Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Nebraska, and it awarded 1 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Northeast is $9,029 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Northeast Community College General Education Report
Capella University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school handed out 133 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Capella University also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,545 for Plains States Region Education students with aid per year to attend Capella University.
Full Capella University General Education Report
University of North Dakota ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 1 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UND is $16,966 for plains states region education students with aid.
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 did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Saint Charles, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.
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. It costs about $17,366 for Plains States Region Education students with aid per year to attend Lindenwood University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Lindenwood University
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 15 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
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. It costs about $18,433 for Plains States Region Education students with aid per year to attend Kansas State University.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about General Education at K -State
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $15,702 for plains states region education students with aid.
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 UMKC General Education Report
Bemidji State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bemidji State University is a small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 19 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $16,033 for plains states region education students with aid.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full Bemidji State University General Education Report
With a ranking of #21, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Gustavus Adolphus College is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region education students with aid list, Gustavus Adolphus has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,696 for Plains States Region Education students with aid per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Education at Gustavus Adolphus
Southwest Baptist University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Bolivar, Missouri, and it awarded 75 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwest Baptist University also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Baptist University is $17,291 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
Full Southwest Baptist University General Education Report
Martin Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Martin Luther College is a small school located in New Ulm, Minnesota that handed out 9 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
MLC also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for MLC is $22,205 for plains states region education students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, 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.
Read full report on General Education at Martin Luther College
With a ranking of #24, Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Concordia College at Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Concordia College Moorhead also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia College Moorhead is $23,189 for Plains States Region Education students with aid.
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%.
Full Concordia College Moorhead General Education Report
University of Sioux Falls landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Sioux Falls is $21,662 for plains states region education students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.
Read more about General Education at University of Sioux Falls
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