2026 Best Best Schools in the The Plains States Region
Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools to find the best for best students.
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Best Schools for Best in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in best. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 54 best degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Read more about the best program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 130 best students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $67,909 in their early career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
See the full best program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
South Dakota State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 49 best degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans.
See the full best program report for South Dakota State University
University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 17 best degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
Read more about the best program at University Of Missouri Kansas City
Bellevue University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 121 best students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,548. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete this degree.
See the full best program report for Bellevue University
Truman State University landed the #6 spot for best this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 best degrees were awarded at Truman State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $39,764. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in best from Truman State University
Wichita State University came in at #7 for best this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 42 best students who graduated with this degree at Wichita State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Wichita State University earn around $49,278 in the first couple years of their career. Wichita State University graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans.
Get the full best details for Wichita State University
University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 18 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $57,375 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete this degree.
Read more about the best program at University Of Iowa
Winona State University earned the #9 position for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $53,109 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,551.
See the full best program report for Winona State University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 35 schools evaluated.
- 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.
