2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
14
Ranked Colleges
530
Degrees Awarded
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 9,899 people earned their degree in environmental studies, making the major the 87th most popular in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 530 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in environmental studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent environmental 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 environmental studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Environmental Studies Schools
The ecosystem studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
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. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
Iowa State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $14,641 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Iowa State
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $13,364 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Duluth Environmental Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $6,691 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Morris Environmental Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $15,394 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Environmental Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 9 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $18,826 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 South Dakota State
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
KU also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $18,586 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of Kansas
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gustavus Adolphus, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus is $20,188 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Gustavus Adolphus
Webster University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Webster University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 35 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Webster, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Webster University is $22,524 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 full report on Environmental Studies at Webster
University of Iowa landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 38 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Iowa has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $18,026 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Iowa
St Olaf College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,453 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St Olaf College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at St. Olaf
Bemidji State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Bemidji State University is a small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 21 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Bemidji State University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,520 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Bemidji State University.
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%.
Full Bemidji State University Environmental Studies Report
Macalester College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 19 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Macalester has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester College is $15,953 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Macalester
Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Luther College is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 15 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Luther did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Luther College is $23,262 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Luther College Environmental Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, Saint Johns University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. SJU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Minnesota. It awarded 10 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
SJU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,658 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Saint Johns University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 SJU Environmental Studies Report
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
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
- *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.
college factual
(NRCS_Photo_Gallery).jpg){kind=link}