2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts in the Plains States Region
90
Ranked Colleges
26,538
Degrees Awarded
$10,700
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
With 366,996 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts is the 2nd most popular major in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 26,538 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 90 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts 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
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. 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 Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Metropolitan Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 353 students in 2020-2021.
MCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $4,315 for plains states region liberal studies students per year to attend MCC.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full MCC Liberal Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 65 degrees to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal studies students list, Columbia College Missouri has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $26,668 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Columbia College Missouri
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dakota College at Bottineau. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bottineau, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 74 degrees to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.
MSU-Bottineau did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,490 for plains states region liberal studies students per year to attend Dakota College at Bottineau.
Full Dakota College at Bottineau Liberal Arts Report
Out of the 90 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson County Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. JCCC is a fairly large school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 1,257 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal studies students list, JCCC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend JCCC is $13,371 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Full Johnson County Community College Liberal Arts Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a medium-sized school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 426 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Century College also took the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $10,397 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Century College
With a ranking of #6, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 2,357 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal studies students list, MCC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $6,966 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at MCC
Garden City Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Garden City Community College is a small public school situated in Garden City, Kansas. It awarded 182 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,217 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students per year to attend Garden City Community College.
The undergrad 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 full report on Liberal Arts at Garden City Community College
Bismarck State College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 352 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
BSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,756 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students per year to attend Bismarck State College.
Full Bismarck State College Liberal Arts Report
Normandale Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Bloomington, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 713 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Normandale Community College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $10,854 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Normandale Community College
With a ranking of #10, Lake Superior College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. LSC is a small school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 324 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
LSC also took the #24 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LSC is $14,801 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Full LSC Liberal Arts Report
Rochester Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Rochester, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 259 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,149 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students per year to attend Rochester Community and Technical College.
Full Rochester Community and Technical College Liberal Arts Report
Iowa Western Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Council Bluffs, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 440 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa Western Community College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Western Community College is $11,682 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Iowa Western Community College
North Hennepin Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 249 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for North Hennepin Community College is $10,081 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Full North Hennepin Community College Liberal Arts Report
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,045 ’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal studies students list, DMACC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $9,557 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Des Moines Area Community College
St Charles Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized school located in Cottleville, Missouri that handed out 531 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
SCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St Charles Community College is $3,248 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at St Charles Community College
Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It awarded 419 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa Central Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $9,695 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Iowa Central Community College
Central Lakes College - Brainerd did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 320 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Lakes College is $12,429 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Full Central Lakes College Liberal Arts Report
Barton County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Barton Community College is a small school located in Great Bend, Kansas that handed out 314 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,003 for plains states region liberal studies students per year to attend Barton County Community College.
Full Barton Community College Liberal Arts Report
Minnesota State Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Fergus Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 285 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend M State is $11,244 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at M State
Butler Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Butler CC is a medium-sized public school situated in El Dorado, Kansas. It awarded 492 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Butler CC is $13,255 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Butler Community College
With a ranking of #21, Ridgewater College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Ridgewater College is a small public school situated in Willmar, Minnesota. It awarded 242 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ridgewater College is $11,436 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Read more about Liberal Arts at Ridgewater College
Inver Hills Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. IHCC is a public institution located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 251 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for IHCC is $11,570 for plains states region liberal studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Inver Hills Community College
With a ranking of #23, Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Sheldon, Iowa. It awarded 63 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Northwest Iowa Community College is $10,831 for plains states region liberal studies students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Liberal Arts at Northwest Iowa Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 114 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $8,309 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Independence Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Independence, Kansas, and it awarded 13 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Independence Community College is $6,925 for Plains States Region Liberal Studies students.
Full Independence Community College Liberal Arts Report
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