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2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

16 Ranked Colleges
1,368 Degrees Awarded
$18,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 365,980 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Plains States region, there were 26,613 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,368 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. 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 Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.

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 Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Fort Hays State University landed the #1 spot on the list. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 249 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FHSU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,807 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Fort Hays State University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Fort Hays State University

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 80 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $17,228 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Iowa State

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri Southern State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Missouri Southern is a medium-sized school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 79 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri Southern also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern is $12,802 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Missouri Southern State University

#4

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 190 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $20,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Iowa Liberal Arts Report

#5

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 76 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $17,467 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at University of Northern Iowa

#6

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Emporia State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. ESU is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ESU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend ESU is $16,515 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Emporia State University Liberal Arts Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 151 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k list, UMKC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $17,241 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full UMKC Liberal Arts Report

#8

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 53 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitt State also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt State is $16,826 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Pittsburg State University

#9

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $14,557 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of Missouri - St Louis

#10

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
#12 in overall quality

University of Mary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UMary also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,691 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Mary.

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 more about Liberal Arts at UMary

#11

William Jewell College

Liberty, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, William Jewell College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Liberty, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

William Jewell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend William Jewell College is $29,584 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 full report on Liberal Arts at William Jewell College

#13 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $18,298 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Missouri State University - Springfield

#13

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#4 in overall quality

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #13. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $20,981 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of Kansas

#14

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Grand View University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand View University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Grand View University is $18,868 for plains states region bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Grand View University Liberal Arts Report

#15

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, Missouri
#16 in overall quality

Lincoln University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Lincoln University is a public institution located in Jefferson City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LU Missouri also took the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lincoln University is $14,496 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at LU Missouri

#16

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Metro State is a medium-sized public school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 7 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Metro State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,003 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Metropolitan State University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Metro State

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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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