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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies in the Plains States Region

15 Ranked Colleges
608 Degrees Awarded
$18,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 16,240 people earned their degree in area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies, making the major the 30th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $30,827 and had an average of $22,562 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,040 area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,300 and $23,472 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 608 area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies 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 area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies in the Plains States Region

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Haskell Indian Nations University landed the #1 spot on the list. Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 19 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Haskell, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Haskell is $2,836 for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.

Read full report on Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 10 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at UMN Duluth

#12 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #3 spot on the list. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees to qualified students.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Minnesota State Mankato Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Report

#4

Oglala Lakota College

Kyle, South Dakota
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oglala Lakota College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school situated in Kyle, South Dakota. It awarded 15 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oglala Lakota College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $-375 for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students per year to attend Oglala Lakota College. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Read more about Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Oglala Lakota College

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students list, Iowa State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Report

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #3 spot in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Mizzou

#7

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 49 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students list, KU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,918 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students per year to attend University of Kansas.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full KU Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Report

#8

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. WSU is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,382 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students per year to attend Wichita State University.

Read full report on Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at WSU

#9

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 36 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,740 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at UMN Twin Cities

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees to qualified students.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Iowa

#11

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

Saint Louis University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 17 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SLU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SLU is $28,188 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Saint Louis University

#12

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 54 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $23,543 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students per year to attend St. Olaf.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full St. Olaf Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Report

#13

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Grinnell College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Grinnell, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies students in 2019-2020.

Grinnell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $22,486 for plains states region bachelor’s degree area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students per year to attend Grinnell.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Grinnell

#14

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $26,869 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at WUSTL

#15

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Carleton College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s area, ethnic, culture, and gender studies degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Carleton is $31,133 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, 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 94%.

Read more about Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies at Carleton

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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

Footnotes

  • *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

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to G. Mützel.

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