2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Plains States Region
100
Ranked Colleges
31,199
Degrees Awarded
$11,200
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,497 and $16,369 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 100 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region. 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 / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.
MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MCC is $4,315 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
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 Metropolitan Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 871 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia College Missouri did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $26,668 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Columbia College
Out of the 100 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #3 spot on the list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 65 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $18,578 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at South Dakota State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dakota College at Bottineau. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. MSU-Bottineau is a public institution located in Bottineau, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU-Bottineau also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $10,490 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Dakota College at Bottineau.
Full MSU-Bottineau Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Out of the 100 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson County Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 1,257 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
JCCC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Johnson County Community College is $13,371 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Johnson County Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
With a ranking of #6, Century College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 426 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
Century College also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,397 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Century College
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 2,357 students in 2020-2021.
MCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $6,966 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at MCC
With a ranking of #8, Garden City Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Garden City Community College is a small public school situated in Garden City, Kansas. It awarded 227 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Garden City Community College is $5,217 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 / Sciences & Humanities at Garden City Community College
Bismarck State College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 352 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, BSC has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bismarck State College is $9,756 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full BSC Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Normandale Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bloomington, Minnesota that handed out 713 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
Normandale Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,854 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Normandale Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Normandale Community College
Lake Superior College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. LSC is a small public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 324 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,801 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Lake Superior College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Lake Superior College
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 259 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Rochester Community and Technical College is $15,149 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Rochester Community and Technical College
Iowa Western Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 493 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa Western Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,682 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.
Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
North Hennepin Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 249 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $10,081 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Full North Hennepin Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school awarded 1,170 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $9,557 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Full Des Moines Area Community College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
With a ranking of #16, St Charles Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cottleville, Missouri. It awarded 531 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
SCC also took the #25 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Charles Community College is $3,248 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at St Charles Community College
Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 426 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $9,695 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Iowa Central Community College
Central Lakes College - Brainerd ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Central Lakes College is a small public school situated in Brainerd, Minnesota. It awarded 320 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Lakes College is $12,429 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Central Lakes College - Brainerd
With a ranking of #19, Barton County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 382 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Barton County Community College is $10,003 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Barton County Community College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota that handed out 285 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,244 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Minnesota State Community and Technical College.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at M State
University of North Dakota ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, UND has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $16,966 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UND Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Butler Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. El Dorado, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 492 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Butler Community College is $13,255 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Butler CC
Haskell Indian Nations University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this small public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Haskell Indian Nations University is $3,271 for plains states region liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Haskell
Ridgewater College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Willmar, Minnesota, and it awarded 242 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,436 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Ridgewater College.
Full Ridgewater College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report
Inver Hills Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Region list. Inver Hills Community College is a small school located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota that handed out 251 ’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Inver Hills Community College is $11,570 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.
Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at IHCC
