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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

18 Ranked Colleges
1,582 Degrees Awarded
$16,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree 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 Getting Aid”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #1 spot on the list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 318 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at UNOMAHA

#2

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#2 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 110 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,738 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend UND.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UND General Studies Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 100 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, Mizzou has also earned the #3 rank 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 $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

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 Mizzou General Studies Report

#4

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#16 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, MSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU is $11,898 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read more about General Studies at MSU

#5

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Missouri State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 172 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

Full Southeast Missouri State University General Studies Report

#6

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Fontbonne University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Fontbonne University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fontbonne University also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Fontbonne University is $15,961 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Fontbonne University General Studies Report

#7

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 89 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,382 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend WSU.

Full Wichita State University General Studies Report

#8

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

Emporia State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ESU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ESU is $14,822 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Full ESU General Studies Report

#9

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
#15 in overall quality

College of Saint Mary landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. College of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 12 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Mary also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for College of Saint Mary is $14,325 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

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. 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%.

Read full report on General Studies at College of Saint Mary

#10 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students 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. It costs about $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 more about General Studies at UNK

#11

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#8 in overall quality

South Dakota State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 30 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed 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 is $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 more about General Studies at South Dakota State

#12

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#7 in overall quality

University of South Dakota landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. USD is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 45 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.

USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $18,555 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

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 full report on General Studies at USD

#13

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota
#17 in overall quality

Mayville State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Mayville, North Dakota, and 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. The yearly cost to attend Mayville State University is $12,378 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at Mayville State University

#14

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, 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 Getting Aid list. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

UMary also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mary is $17,410 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.

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

Read full report on General Studies at University of Mary

#15

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Grand View University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, Grand View University has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand View University is $19,826 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Full Grand View University General Studies Report

#16

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 377 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, Columbia College Missouri has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $26,730 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.

Full Columbia College General Studies Report

#17

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. SLU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, SLU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $28,188 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend SLU.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. 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 Saint Louis University General Studies Report

#18 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Drury University - CCPS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - CCPS is $13,233 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.

Read full report on General Studies at Drury University - CCPS

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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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