2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region
32
Ranked Colleges
3,607
Degrees Awarded
$11,700
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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” ranking analyzed 32 colleges that offered a degree in general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general studies programs and 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Studies in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 806 students in 2020-2021.
Columbia College Missouri also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College is $26,668 for Plains States Region General Studies students.
Full Columbia College General Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 65 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,578 for Plains States Region General Studies students per year to attend South Dakota State.
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 more about General Studies at South Dakota State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Garden City Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region. Garden City Community College is a small public school situated in Garden City, Kansas. It awarded 45 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students list, Garden City Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $5,217 for plains states region general studies students per year to attend Garden City Community College.
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%.
Read more about General Studies at Garden City Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa Western Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region. This medium-sized school is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it awarded 53 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa Western Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,682 for Plains States Region General Studies students per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.
Full Iowa Western Community College General Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Des Moines Area Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region. Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 125 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at DMACC, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $9,557 for plains states region general studies students.
Read more about General Studies at DMACC
Iowa Central Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 7 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students list, Iowa Central Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,695 for plains states region general studies students per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.
Read full report on General Studies at Iowa Central Community College
Barton County Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Great Bend, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Barton Community College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Barton County Community College is $10,003 for plains states region general studies students.
Full Barton County Community College General Studies Report
University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $16,966 for Plains States Region General Studies students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Studies at UND
Haskell Indian Nations University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Haskell Indian Nations University is a small public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 36 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Haskell Indian Nations University is $3,271 for Plains States Region General Studies students.
Read full report on General Studies at Haskell
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
Western Iowa Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $8,309 for Plains States Region General Studies students.
Full Western Iowa Tech Community College General Studies Report
Leech Lake Tribal College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. 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 $5,376 for Plains States Region General Studies students 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.
Full Leech Lake Tribal College General Studies Report
Independence Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Independence Community College is a small school located in Independence, Kansas that handed out 70 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Independence Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Independence Community College is $6,925 for plains states region general studies students.
Read more about General Studies at Independence Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. OTC is a fairly large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 28 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
OTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ozarks Technical Community College is $7,525 for Plains States Region General Studies students.
Read more about General Studies at Ozarks Technical Community College
University of Mary did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. University of Mary is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
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 University of Mary is $18,572 for plains states region general studies students.
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 more about General Studies at University of Mary
Northeast Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Norfolk, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Northeast not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,029 for plains states region general studies students per year to attend Northeast Community College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Studies at Northeast
Labette Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Labette Community College is a public institution located in Parsons, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Labette Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Labette Community College is $6,515 for plains states region general studies students.
Full Labette Community College General Studies Report
Wichita State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 82 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $14,859 for plains states region general studies students.
Read full report on General Studies at WSU
Emporia State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
ESU also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,794 for plains states region general studies students per year to attend Emporia State University.
The low undergrad 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 full report on General Studies at ESU
University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.
UNK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,099 for Plains States Region General Studies students per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.
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%.
Full UNK General Studies Report
Mineral Area College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. 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 estimated yearly cost for Mineral Area College is $8,866 for plains states region general studies students.
Full Mineral Area College General Studies Report
North Central Missouri College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. North Central Missouri College is located in Trenton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend NCMC is $9,281 for Plains States Region General Studies students.
Read full report on General Studies at NCMC
Mayville State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Mayville State University is a small public school situated in Mayville, North Dakota. It awarded 29 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Mayville State University also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mayville State University is $13,856 for plains states region general studies students.
Full Mayville State University General Studies Report
Minot State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. 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 $12,205 for plains states region general studies students.
Read more about General Studies at Minot State University
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 346 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,914 for plains states region general studies students per year to attend UNOMAHA.
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%.
Full University of Nebraska at Omaha General Studies Report
Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 132 students in 2020-2021.
Southeast Missouri State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,568 for plains states region general studies students per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.
Read full report on General Studies at Southeast Missouri State University