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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

18 Ranked Colleges
458 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 9,869 people earned their degree in environmental studies, making the major the 85th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 555 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 458 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in environmental studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great environmental studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the environmental studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ecosystem studies students in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of Minnesota - Morris

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Iowa State University

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Olaf College landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $12,459 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full St Olaf College Environmental Studies Report

#5

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Cloud State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. St. Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at St. Cloud State University

#4 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL also made our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $12,216 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#7

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Saint Johns University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SJU is located in Collegeville, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SJU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,683 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Johns University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at SJU

#8

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Macalester College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Macalester also made our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $10,158 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macalester College.

The low student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Macalester College

#9

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#8 in overall quality

South Dakota State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, South Dakota State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at South Dakota State

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #9 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Environmental Studies at Iowa

#11

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 24 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,150 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Gustavus Adolphus

#12

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#16 in overall quality

Kansas State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ecosystem studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, K -State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,232 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kansas State University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Kansas State University Environmental Studies Report

#13

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

University of Kansas landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 47 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,387 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Kansas.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at KU

#14

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 1 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Bethel University Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bethel University Minnesota is $18,396 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Bethel University Minnesota

#15

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Luther College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Luther not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,636 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Luther College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Luther College

#16

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Drake University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Drake is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

Drake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drake is $25,212 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive 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. The low 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%.

Full Drake University Environmental Studies Report

#17

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
#18 in overall quality

University of Dubuque landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UD is $19,369 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Dubuque Environmental Studies Report

#18

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

UST MN also took the #12 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UST MN is $27,460 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Environmental Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

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