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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

133 Ranked Colleges
11,549 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

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 Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 310,601 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 32,592 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,310 and $28,608 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 11,549 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 Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 133 colleges that offer a degree in education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent education programs, but they also 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 education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#22 in overall quality

Out of the 133 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Valley City State University is a small public school situated in Valley City, North Dakota. It awarded 169 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid list, Valley City State University has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,981 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Valley City State University.

Read full report on Education at Valley City State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,412 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend UMN Morris.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at University of Minnesota - Morris

#3

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minot State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 90 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,898 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Minot State University.

Full MSU Education Report

#4

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 391 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $17,740 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#5

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 573 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNI Education Report

#9 in overall quality

Iowa State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 268 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid list, Iowa State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Iowa State University.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Education at Iowa State

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 84 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,584 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Education Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNL is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 324 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,208 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend UNL.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Read more about Education at UNL

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 193 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at St. Cloud State University

#10

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 149 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $9,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at University of Missouri - St Louis

#11

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
Top 25% in overall quality

Emporia State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Emporia, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 218 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,822 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Emporia State University.

Read more about Education at ESU

#12

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dickinson, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,855 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend DSU.

Read more about Education at DSU

#3 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UMN Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 141 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The 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 University of Minnesota - Duluth Education Report

Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 206 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Minnesota State Mankato also did well on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#15

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. WSC is located in Wayne, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 157 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $13,765 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Wayne State College.

Read full report on Education at Wayne State College

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 219 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,040 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend UNOMAHA.

Read full report on Education at UNOMAHA

Fort Hays State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 338 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend FHSU is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Fort Hays State University

#18

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#20 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 159 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend University of North Dakota.

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%.

Read full report on Education at UND

#19

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#17 in overall quality

Winona State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 273 students in 2019-2020.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Winona State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State Education Report

Missouri Southern State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri Southern is a medium-sized public school situated in Joplin, Missouri. It awarded 111 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern State University is $9,625 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Missouri Southern State University

#21

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Pittsburg, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 117 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $14,436 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Pittsburg State University

#24 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 247 students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,001 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Education at University of Missouri - Columbia

#23

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri Western is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western State University is $10,958 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Full Missouri Western State University Education Report

#24

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota

With a ranking of #24, Mayville State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Mayville, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 63 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,378 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Mayville State University.

Read full report on Education at Mayville State University

#25

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. 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 13 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $15,616 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Bellevue University

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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 Horadrim.

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