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2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

123 Ranked Colleges
5,435 Degrees Awarded
$15,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 40,622 people earned their degree in elementary education, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,219 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,435 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 123 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in elementary education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality elementary education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the elementary education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Elementary Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

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

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

#1

Martin Luther College

New Ulm, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

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 Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in New Ulm, Minnesota, and it awarded 77 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

MLC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MLC is $19,703 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Martin Luther College Elementary Education Report

#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 Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Minot State University is a public institution located in Minot, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $11,898 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at MSU

#3

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#18 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Valley City State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 110 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Valley City State University also made our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Valley City State University is $11,981 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Full Valley City State University Elementary Education Report

#4

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota

Out of the 123 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Dickinson State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Dickinson State University is a public institution located in Dickinson, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Dickinson State University is $10,855 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Dickinson State University

#5

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Out of the 123 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Chadron State College landed the #5 spot on the list. Chadron State College is located in Chadron, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Chadron State College is $14,268 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at Chadron State College

#6

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#14 in overall quality

University of North Dakota ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 91 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

UND also took the #14 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students.

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%.

Full UND Elementary Education Report

#7

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota

Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Madison, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Dakota State is $17,691 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Full Dakota State University Elementary Education Report

#8

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Winona State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 165 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

Winona State also made our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students per year to attend Winona State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Elementary Education at Winona State University

#9

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

With a ranking of #9, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at Bemidji State University

#10

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

University of South Dakota landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to 75 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,555 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students per year to attend USD.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 more about Elementary Education at University of South Dakota

#11

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota

Mayville State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Mayville, North Dakota, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Mayville State University is $12,378 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students.

Read more about Elementary Education at Mayville State University

Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Southwest Minnesota State University

#13

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $15,851 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at NSU

#14

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#1 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 288 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #1 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students per year to attend UNI.

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%. 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 Elementary Education Report

#15

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. WSC is a small public school situated in Wayne, Nebraska. It awarded 59 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,765 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students per year to attend WSC.

Full Wayne State College Elementary Education Report

Top 25% in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s elementary teaching students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $11,412 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Elementary Education Report

#20 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 103 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Elementary Education Report

#18

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota

With a ranking of #18, Black Hills State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Black Hills State University is a small public school situated in Spearfish, South Dakota. It awarded 56 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for BHSU is $16,641 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at BHSU

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $16,893 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 more about Elementary Education at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

#20

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. St. Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,267 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Full St. Cloud State University Elementary Education Report

University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UNK is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 105 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UNK is $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska at Kearney Elementary Education Report

#22

Central College

Pella, Iowa
#21 in overall quality

Central College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Pella, Iowa, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

Central also took the #21 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central is $23,269 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

The low 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%.

Full Central Elementary Education Report

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 163 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Missouri State

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 148 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest Missouri State University is $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree elementary teaching students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Northwest Missouri State University

Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 152 bachelors’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Teaching students.

Full FHSU Elementary 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 Vgrigas.

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