2027 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/geography-and-environmental-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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
Leading the list is University Of Missouri Kansas City, our #1 best value for value in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,741. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Kansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $46,572. That is a strong return on a $24,624 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,104. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $42,517. 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.
