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2023 Best Value Colleges for Engineering-Related Fields in the Plains States Region

13 Ranked Colleges
751 Degrees Awarded
$15,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region

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 Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 6,736 people earned their degree in engineering-related fields, making the major the 112th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, engineering-related fields graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $77,404 and had an average of $26,200 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 751 engineering-related fields graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,566 and $29,473 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in engineering-related fields. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality engineering-related fields 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 engineering-related fields 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.

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

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region engineering-related fields students.

1
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 15 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $18,578 for Plains States Region Engineering-Related Fields students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 South Dakota State University Engineering-Related Fields Report

2

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 118 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering-related fields students in 2020-2021.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for Plains States Region Engineering-Related Fields students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Iowa State

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri State University - Springfield. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 85 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region engineering-related fields students list, Missouri State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for Plains States Region Engineering-Related Fields students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full Missouri State Engineering-Related Fields Report

4
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Cloud State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 48 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region engineering-related fields students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,581 for plains states region engineering-related fields students per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

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%.

Full Saint Cloud State University Engineering-Related Fields Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pittsburg State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 13 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region engineering-related fields students list, Pitt State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt State is $14,575 for Plains States Region Engineering-Related Fields students.

Full Pitt State Engineering-Related Fields Report

6

Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 284 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region engineering-related fields students list, Missouri University of Science and Technology has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,964 for plains states region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Missouri University of Science and Technology

7
Grantham University crest
Grantham University
Lenexa, Kansas

Grantham University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lenexa, Kansas, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 43 degrees to qualified ’s engineering-related fields students in 2020-2021.

Grantham University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,245 for plains states region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Grantham University.

Read full report on Engineering-Related Fields at Grantham University

8
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

With a ranking of #8, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s engineering-related fields degrees to qualified students.

Southeast Missouri State University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for plains states region engineering-related fields students.

Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Southeast Missouri State University

9
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #9, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region list. KU is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 24 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $20,257 for Plains States Region Engineering-Related Fields students per year to attend KU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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 University of Kansas Engineering-Related Fields Report

10

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Wichita State University is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 10 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,859 for Plains States Region Engineering-Related Fields students per year to attend Wichita State University.

Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at WSU

11

With a ranking of #11, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region list. SD Mines is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 15 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

SD Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $19,919 for plains states region engineering-related fields students per year to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Engineering-Related Fields Report

12
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s engineering-related fields degrees to qualified students.

K -State also made our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $18,433 for plains states region engineering-related fields students per year to attend Kansas State University.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full K -State Engineering-Related Fields Report

13
Washburn University crest
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas

With a ranking of #13, Washburn University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region list. Washburn University is a medium-sized school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 10 ’s engineering-related fields degrees in 2020-2021.

Washburn University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Engineering-Related Fields Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $14,339 for plains states region engineering-related fields students.

Read more about Engineering-Related Fields at Washburn University

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