2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota tops our 2027 list of the best value value schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,080. Typical student debt for value graduates is $27,081. Early-career value graduates make about $69,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $54,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,943. Value graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. Set against $25,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Bellevue University one of the best values for value. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. Value graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $61,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Missouri State University Springfield one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,408. Value graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #6 among the best values for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Value graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #7 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,260. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #9 among the best values for value. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #10 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $67,909. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $65,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Rockhurst University came in at #12 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,966. Students borrow a median of $24,111 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $70,849. That is a strong return on a $24,111 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Webster University earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,939. Value graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Drake University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 14 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.
