2026 Best Women’s Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Women’s Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their women’s studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best women’s studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Women’s Studies in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the women’s studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Women’s Studies
University Of Kansas tops our 2026 ranking of the best women's studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 20 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete this degree.
Read more about the women's studies program at University Of Kansas
Iowa State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best women's studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $53,900 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,495.
Get the full women's studies details for Iowa State University
Students looking for a strong women's studies program will find one at University Of Iowa, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 13 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $34,216 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
See the full women's studies program report for University Of Iowa
Minnesota State University Mankato is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in women's studies, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 14 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their women's studies degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $53,088 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,585.
More information about a degree in women's studies from Minnesota State University Mankato
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 38 schools evaluated.
- 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.
