2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
18
Ranked Colleges
1,301
Degrees Awarded
$12,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 21,388 people earned their degree in civil engineering, making the major the 50th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, civil engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $63,364 and had an average of $24,364 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 1,301 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,656 and $25,759 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in civil engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great civil engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the civil engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Civil Engineering Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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.
Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Civil Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 97 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Civil Engineering at UMN Twin Cities
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 179 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $9,766 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Civil Engineering at Iowa State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 168 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri University of Science and Technology is $7,356 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Missouri University of Science and Technology Civil Engineering Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.
UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,843 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,005 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Civil Engineering at Mizzou
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 130 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $11,672 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Civil Engineering at UNL
With a ranking of #7, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Dakota State University is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 75 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
North Dakota State University also made our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $11,835 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Dakota State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Civil Engineering at North Dakota State University
With a ranking of #8, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.
Iowa also took the #6 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $13,554 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Iowa
University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.
UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $12,394 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Civil Engineering at University of North Dakota
University of Kansas landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified ’s civil eng students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, KU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $15,666 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.
Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Kansas
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s civil eng degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $13,436 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.
Read more about Civil Engineering at Kansas State University
University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 39 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC also made our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $12,724 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMKC.
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 Civil Engineering Report
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,991 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k 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 full report on Civil Engineering at University of Missouri - St Louis
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 65 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
SD Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $16,705 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.
Read more about Civil Engineering at SD Mines
With a ranking of #15, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s civil eng degrees to 45 students in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $14,171 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Civil Engineering Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.
Minnesota State Mankato also took the #17 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,692 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.
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%.
Read more about Civil Engineering at Minnesota State Mankato
Saint Louis University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SLU is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 18 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
SLU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,136 for Plains States Region Civil Eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SLU.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Civil Engineering at SLU
Dordt University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dordt University is a small school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 13 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.
Dordt also took the #16 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dordt is $20,035 for plains states region civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Civil Engineering at Dordt 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
- *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
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