2026 Best Best Schools in the The Plains States Region
Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best best schools.
What’s on this page:
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
University Of Minnesota Duluth tops our 2026 ranking of the best best schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 24 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $46,572. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete this degree.
See the full best program report for University Of Minnesota Duluth
University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kansas awarded about 22 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Kansas earn around $56,289 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans.
See the full best program report for University Of Kansas
South Dakota State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. South Dakota State University awarded about 18 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. 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
A rank of #4 makes Macalester College one of the top schools for best. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 21 best students who graduated with this degree at Macalester College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Macalester College earn around $42,517 in the first couple years of their career. Macalester College graduates carry a median of $22,147 in student loans.
More information about a degree in best from Macalester College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 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.
