2027 Best Value General Public Health Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/public-health-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general public health schools.
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2027 Best Value General Public Health Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Public Health Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best value for a degree in general public health in the The Plains States Region. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $70,387. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nebraska At Omaha one of the best values for general public health. 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, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $21,328. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $40,021. Set against $21,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Southeast Technical Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,650. Students borrow a median of $18,442 to complete the general public health program here. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $48,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #4 place for general public health. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capella University earned it the #5 place for general public health. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $73,117. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas placed #6 among the best values for general public health. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $62,420. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #7 among the best values for general public health. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Students borrow a median of $40,809 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $35,433. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lindenwood University landed the #8 spot for general public health value this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $48,197. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #9 for value in general public health this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $23,546. General Public Health graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $49,946 early in their careers. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
St Catherine University earned the #10 position for value in general public health this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,428. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $29,815 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $52,000. Set against $29,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Catherine University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general public health schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $19,000. Early-career general public health graduates make about $53,368. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University earned the #12 position for value in general public health this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,878. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $50,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Washington University In St Louis placed #13 among the best values for general public health. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the general public health program here. Early-career general public health graduates make about $59,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa placed #14 among the best values for general public health. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,469 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $48,836. Set against $22,469 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in general public health this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,122 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $47,886. That is a strong return on a $26,122 median debt. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #16 spot for general public health value this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,528 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Saint Ambrose University generally make around $57,252. Set against $27,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #17 among the best values for general public health. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general public health program here. General Public Health graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $38,475 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
Creighton University earned the #18 position for value in general public health this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,856 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete the general public health program here. General Public Health graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $57,285 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Walden University landed the #19 spot for general public health value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $11,067 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $45,793. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $66,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
