2026 Best Value Pharmacy Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Pharmacy](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/pharmacy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value pharmacy schools.
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2026 Best Value Pharmacy Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pharmacy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Pharmacy Schools
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #1 spot for value among pharmacy schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $23,741. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the pharmacy program here. Pharmacy graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $118,142 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for pharmacy. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $94,628 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values for pharmacy. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $19,151 to complete the pharmacy program here. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $115,842. That is a strong return on a $19,151 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
South Dakota State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pharmacy, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $51,260. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Iowa ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pharmacy graduates is $24,463. Pharmacy graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $83,848 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Drake University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
Creighton University came in at #8 for value in pharmacy this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,856. Pharmacy graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Pharmacy graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $112,454 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
St Louis College Of Pharmacy ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, St Louis College Of Pharmacy is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,550. Early-career pharmacy graduates make about $111,406. St Louis College Of Pharmacy admits about 90% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
