2026 Best Value Military Technologies & Applied Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Military Technologies & Applied Sciences](/majors/military-technologies-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong military technologies & applied sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for military technologies & applied sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Military Technologies & Applied Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in military technologies & applied sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Military Technologies & Applied Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Missouri State University Springfield the best value for a degree in military technologies & applied sciences in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for military technologies & applied sciences graduates is $24,408. Early-career military technologies & applied sciences graduates make about $46,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in military technologies & applied sciences will find it at Iowa State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Military Technologies & Applied Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans. Military Technologies & Applied Sciences graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $53,900 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Dakota State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value military technologies & applied sciences schools. Set in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $12,756. Students borrow a median of $28,724 to complete the military technologies & applied sciences program here. Soon after graduation, military technologies & applied sciences degree recipients from Dakota State University generally make around $51,970. Set against $28,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dakota State University admits about 88% of applicants.
National American University Rapid City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in military technologies & applied sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Rapid City, National American University Rapid City is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,065 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $38,264 to complete the military technologies & applied sciences program here. Military Technologies & Applied Sciences graduates of National American University Rapid City earn a median of $47,873 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in military technologies & applied sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the military technologies & applied sciences program here. Soon after graduation, military technologies & applied sciences degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $71,729. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University came in at #6 for value in military technologies & applied sciences this year. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Typical student debt for military technologies & applied sciences graduates is $25,939. Military Technologies & Applied Sciences graduates of Webster University earn a median of $99,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value military technologies & applied sciences schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Military Technologies & Applied Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Early-career military technologies & applied sciences graduates make about $65,599. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.