2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/ethnic-cultural-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,964. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $33,000. Set against $21,964 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Minnesota Duluth, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Value graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $41,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #3 place for value. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $37,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #4 place for value. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $16,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
