2026 Best Value Dentistry Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Dentistry](/majors/health-care-professions/dentistry/dentistry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for dentistry students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Dentistry Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dentistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dentistry Schools
For return on investment in dentistry, no school beat University Of Missouri Kansas City this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the dentistry program here. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $138,806. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dentistry schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the dentistry program here. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $140,452. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Iowa one of the best values for dentistry. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete the dentistry program here. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $138,670. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #4 makes Creighton University one of the best values for dentistry. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,856. Typical student debt for dentistry graduates is $25,831. Soon after graduation, dentistry degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $135,420. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
Narrow Dentistry Schools by State
View All Dentistry Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
