2026 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Modern Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/modern-languages/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for modern languages students.
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2026 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in modern languages, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Modern Languages Schools
Truman State University tops our 2026 list of the best value modern languages schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $23,168 in student loans. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $39,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the best values for modern languages. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Modern Languages graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $33,828 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in modern languages will find it at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $23,741. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Hays State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in modern languages, landing the #4 spot this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. In-state tuition and fees average $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $49,775. Set against $25,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value modern languages schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,706 to complete the modern languages program here. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $28,340. That is a strong return on a $18,706 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #6 spot for modern languages value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $21,500. Modern Languages graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $29,830 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Kansas State University landed the #7 spot for modern languages value this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $23,091 in student loans. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,091 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #8 among the best values for modern languages. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $19,286. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $35,409. That is a strong return on a $19,286 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
