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2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

18 Ranked Colleges
1,582 Degrees Awarded
$13,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

With 133,583 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general studies is the 5th most popular major in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,869 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,582 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general 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 general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The general studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 100 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. 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 University of Missouri - Columbia General Studies Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 318 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $11,460 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha General Studies Report

#3

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 110 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,916 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at UND

#4

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Fontbonne University landed the #4 spot on the list. Fontbonne University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Fontbonne University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Fontbonne University is $12,832 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at Fontbonne University

#5

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Minot State University is a public institution located in Minot, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $8,187 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MSU.

Full Minot State University General Studies Report

#6

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#15 in overall quality

College of Saint Mary came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Saint Mary also took the #15 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,336 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Mary.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full College of Saint Mary General Studies Report

#7

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 172 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeast Missouri State University also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $10,217 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

#8

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 89 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,543 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wichita State University.

Read more about General Studies at Wichita State University

#9

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

Emporia State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Emporia State University is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ESU also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,964 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ESU.

Read full report on General Studies at Emporia State University

#10

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#8 in overall quality

South Dakota State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $16,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State General Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNK is a medium-sized school located in Kearney, Nebraska that handed out 41 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UNK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $13,417 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at UNK

#12

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

Saint Louis University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Louis University is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 16 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SLU is $21,082 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on General Studies at SLU

#13

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Mayville State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mayville State University is a small public school situated in Mayville, North Dakota. It awarded 15 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Mayville State University also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $10,298 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mayville State University.

Read more about General Studies at Mayville State University

#14

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#7 in overall quality

University of South Dakota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of South Dakota is a medium-sized school located in Vermillion, South Dakota that handed out 45 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, USD has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USD is $15,866 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at University of South Dakota

#15

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMary is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

UMary also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $13,446 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Mary.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at UMary

#16

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

Grand View University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

Grand View University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $19,245 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grand View University.

Read full report on General Studies at Grand View University

#17

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Columbia College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 377 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,862 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.

Read more about General Studies at Columbia College

#18 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University - CCPS, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - CCPS is $14,884 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies

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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.

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