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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

6 Ranked Colleges
325 Degrees Awarded
$12,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 9,018 people earned their degree in general engineering, making the major the 96th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 325 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 6 colleges that offered a degree in general engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general engineering 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 general engineering 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 General Engineering Schools

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The engineering school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 6 Best Value Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 48 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $11,672 for plains states region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln General Engineering Report

2
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 11 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,554 for Plains States Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa General Engineering Report

3

Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #3 spot on the list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 36 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,692 for Plains States Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 General Engineering at Minnesota State Mankato

4

Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #4 spot on the list. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mizzou has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,005 for Plains States Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 General Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia

5
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Louis University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.

SLU also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SLU is $15,136 for plains states region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Read full report on General Engineering at SLU

6
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

With a ranking of #6, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 6 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $14,171 for Plains States Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State General Engineering Report

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