2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/geography-and-environmental-studies/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Missouri Kansas City the best value for a degree in value in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $56,289. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Duluth one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. Set against $24,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
South Dakota State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,989. Early-career value graduates make about $51,260. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $68,104. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Macalester College earn a median of $42,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,147 median debt. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
