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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

103 Ranked Colleges
14,968 Degrees Awarded
$9,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 14,968 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 103 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the 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

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” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education in the Plains States Region

#1

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Martin Luther College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Located in New Ulm, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at MLC are $5,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at MLC

#2

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Northwestern College is located in Orange City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 100 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

NWC also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern College are $6,340.

Read full report on Education at Northwestern College

#3

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hamline University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Hamline is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 183 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hamline, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best 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 Education Report

#4

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Drake University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 217 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drake, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Drake University are $11,932, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Drake University

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Nebraska. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Seward, Nebraska, and it awarded 140 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Nebraska are $8,650, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Concordia University, Nebraska Education Report

#6

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota

Valley City State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Valley City State University is a small school located in Valley City, North Dakota that handed out 38 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Valley City State University are $7,473, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Valley City State University Education Report

#7

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa

Morningside College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 322 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Morningside College are $5,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at Morningside College

#21 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 486 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students list, SMU MN has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best 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.

Read full report on Education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 170 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#10

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, Minnesota
#25 in overall quality

Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Concordia College at Moorhead is a small school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 9 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia College Moorhead also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia College Moorhead are $10,620, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Concordia College Moorhead Education Report

#11

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 170 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best 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 Saint Cloud State University are $12,904.

Read more about Education at St. Cloud State University

#12

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Walden University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 1,530 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Walden University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Walden University Education Report

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 395 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwest are $6,673, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Northwest Missouri State University

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Education Report

#15

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #15, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 369 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550.

Read full report on Education at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#15

William Woods University

Fulton, Missouri

William Woods University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. William Woods University is located in Fulton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 422 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at William Woods are $6,750.

Read full report on Education at William Woods

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 140 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Minnesota State University are $8,526.

Read more about Education at Southwest Minnesota State University

#18

Hastings College

Hastings, Nebraska
#18 in overall quality

Hastings College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Hastings, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Hastings also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hastings College are $12,020.

Read more about Education at Hastings College

#19

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 346 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 Lindenwood University are $9,550.

Read full report on Education at Lindenwood University

#20

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

University of Sioux Falls did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. University of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 72 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Sioux Falls are $7,110, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Sioux Falls Education Report

#21

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Lincoln, Nebraska

With a ranking of #21, Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Nebraska Wesleyan University is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NWU are $5,186, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at Nebraska Wesleyan University

#7 in overall quality

The College of Saint Scholastica ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. St. Scholastica is a small school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 77 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Scholastica also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Scholastica are $15,502, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at The College of Saint Scholastica

#23

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri

Southwest Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. Bolivar, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 123 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Baptist University are $5,423, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Southwest Baptist University

#24

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Capella University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 668 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767.

Read more about Education at Capella University

#25

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #25, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 72 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bethel University Minnesota are $11,700.

Read full report on Education at Bethel University Minnesota

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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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