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2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

109 Ranked Colleges
31,199 Degrees Awarded
$8,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools 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 Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 31,199 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,497 and $16,369 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 109 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

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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 Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

1

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 Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 568 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan Community College is $4,315 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College

2
SCC crest
St Charles Community College
Cottleville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Charles Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cottleville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 531 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,248 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid per year to attend St Charles Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at St Charles Community College

3

Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #3 spot on the list. Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,357 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MCC is $6,966 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City

4
MSU-Bottineau crest
Dakota College at Bottineau
Bottineau, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dakota College at Bottineau. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Dakota College at Bottineau is located in Bottineau, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 78 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

MSU-Bottineau did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,490 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Dakota College at Bottineau.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at MSU-Bottineau

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend State Fair Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Sedalia, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 429 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for State Fair Community College is $6,607 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at State Fair Community College

6

With a ranking of #6, Garden City Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Garden City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 227 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Garden City Community College is $5,217 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

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 General Studies at Garden City Community College

7
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Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck State College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 352 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts students with aid list, BSC has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bismarck State College is $9,756 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Bismarck State College

8

Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Des Moines Area Community College is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 1,170 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

DMACC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend DMACC is $9,557 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

9
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,401 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Iowa Liberal Arts General Studies Report

10

Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. OTC is a fairly large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 629 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for OTC is $7,525 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at OTC

11
Independence Community College crest
Independence Community College
Independence, Kansas

Independence Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Independence Community College is a public institution located in Independence, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 83 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Independence Community College is $6,925 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Independence Community College

12

Haskell Indian Nations University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this small public school awarded 36 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Haskell Indian Nations University is $3,271 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University

13
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Century College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 426 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,397 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Full Century College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

14

Johnson County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Johnson County Community College is located in Overland Park, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,257 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JCCC, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Johnson County Community College is $13,371 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Full JCCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

15

Iowa Central Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and it awarded 426 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,695 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

16

Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 124 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $8,309 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College

17
Iowa Western Community College crest
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Council Bluffs, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 493 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Iowa Western Community College is $11,682 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Western Community College

18
Saint Louis Community College crest
Saint Louis Community College
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,372 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,056 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Saint Louis Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Louis Community College

19

Coffeyville Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Coffeyville Community College is a public institution located in Coffeyville, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 178 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Coffeyville Community College is $6,214 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Full Coffeyville Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

20

Fort Hays State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 356 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FHSU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $13,189 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Full Fort Hays State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

21

University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 102 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,232 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend UMSL.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMSL Liberal Arts General Studies Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Labette Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Parsons, Kansas, this small public school awarded 84 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Labette Community College is $6,515 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Full Labette Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

23

With a ranking of #23, Barton County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Barton Community College is located in Great Bend, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 382 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Barton Community College is $10,003 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Full Barton County Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

24
North Hennepin Community College crest
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

With a ranking of #24, North Hennepin Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 249 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for North Hennepin Community College is $10,081 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at North Hennepin Community College

25
Southeastern Community College crest
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, Iowa

Southeastern Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in West Burlington, Iowa, and it awarded 248 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $7,005 for plains states region liberal arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College

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