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2023 Best Value Colleges for International Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

16 Ranked Colleges
461 Degrees Awarded
$12,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

International Studies is the 100th most popular major in the country with 7,368 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, international studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,198 and had an average of $21,594 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 461 international studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,909 and $21,789 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in international studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent international studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the international studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank International Studies Schools

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More International Studies Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for International Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 64 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $1,556 for Plains States Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about International Studies at Washington University in St Louis

2
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macalester College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester College is $13,926 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about International Studies at Macalester College

3

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 39 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL also took the #4 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $11,672 for Plains States Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full UNL International Studies Report

4

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 48 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $10,578 for Plains States Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNOMAHA International Studies Report

5
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Kansas landed the #5 spot on the list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend KU is $15,666 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at University of Kansas

6

University of Northern Iowa landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 4 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,513 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Northern Iowa International Studies Report

7
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

With a ranking of #7, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, K -State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,436 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend K -State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about International Studies at Kansas State University

8
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $13,554 for Plains States Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on International Studies at Iowa

9

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 5 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,835 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at North Dakota State University

10
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Southeast Missouri State University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,359 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Read full report on International Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

11

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 18 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,381 for Plains States Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at Missouri State

12

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $12,675 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

13
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,721 for Plains States Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at Winona State University

14
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 4 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

St. Cloud State University also took the #16 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,348 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at Saint Cloud State University

15
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #15, Webster University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

Webster did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,047 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Webster University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about International Studies at Webster

16
Hamline crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Hamline is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 8 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Hamline has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline is $16,522 for plains states region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on International Studies at Hamline

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