College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Colleges for General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

32 Ranked Colleges
3,607 Degrees Awarded
Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 129,869 general studies students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,607 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More General Studies Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Garden City Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Garden City Community College is a public institution located in Garden City, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Garden City Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Garden City Community College is $6,537 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Garden City Community College General Studies Report

2

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Haskell Indian Nations University landed the #2 spot on the list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Haskell Indian Nations University is $5,249 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Haskell General Studies Report

3
Independence Community College crest
Independence Community College
Independence, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Independence Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Independence, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Independence Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Independence Community College is $9,412 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Studies at Independence Community College

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. DMACC is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 125 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DMACC also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $10,282 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Studies at DMACC

5
Leech Lake Tribal College crest
Leech Lake Tribal College
Cass Lake, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Leech Lake Tribal College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Leech Lake Tribal College is a small public school situated in Cass Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 12 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Leech Lake Tribal College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $6,182 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Leech Lake Tribal College.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about General Studies at Leech Lake Tribal College

6

With a ranking of #6, Barton County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Barton Community College is located in Great Bend, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Barton Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,566 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Barton County Community College.

Read full report on General Studies at Barton Community College

7

Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 10 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $9,352 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College

8
UMary crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. UMary is a small school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 20 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMary, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMary is $16,854 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Read full report on General Studies at University of Mary

9

Iowa Central Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Iowa Central Community College also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $10,419 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read more about General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

10

Labette Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Parsons, Kansas, and it awarded 24 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Labette Community College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Labette Community College is $7,880 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Studies at Labette Community College

11

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 102 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $13,715 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Mizzou General Studies Report

12
Iowa Western Community College crest
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It awarded 53 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Western Community College also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Western Community College is $12,127 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Iowa Western Community College General Studies Report

13
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 99 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,818 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at University of North Dakota

14

Northeast Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Norfolk, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northeast has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeast is $9,339 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Read full report on General Studies at Northeast Community College

15

Wichita State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 82 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, WSU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,581 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend WSU.

Read full report on General Studies at WSU

15
Crowder College crest
Crowder College
Neosho, Missouri

Crowder College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Crowder College is a small public school situated in Neosho, Missouri. It awarded 283 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,753 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Crowder College.

Full Crowder College General Studies Report

17

Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. OTC is a fairly large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 28 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, OTC has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ozarks Technical Community College is $9,283 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Studies at OTC

18

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UNOMAHA is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 346 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $13,574 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at UNOMAHA

19

North Central Missouri College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. North Central Missouri College is a small school located in Trenton, Missouri that handed out 5 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend NCMC is $10,272 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full NCMC General Studies Report

20
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 65 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,826 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Studies at South Dakota State University

21
MAC crest
Mineral Area College
Park Hills, Missouri

Mineral Area College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Park Hills, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Mineral Area College is $10,451 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about General Studies at MAC

22
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 132 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,157 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Read full report on General Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

23

Emporia State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Emporia State University is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

ESU also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Emporia State University is $15,070 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Full Emporia State University General Studies Report

24

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNK has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,311 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney

25
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

With a ranking of #25, Minot State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. MSU is a small public school situated in Minot, North Dakota. It awarded 21 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for MSU is $11,911 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on General Studies at Minot State University

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options