2023 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
14
Ranked Colleges
530
Degrees Awarded
$21,500
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Environmental Studies is the 87th most popular major in the country with 9,899 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
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 $75-$110k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $75-$110k) 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 $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $17,806 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
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
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 35 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $19,553 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UNL.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at UNL
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
UMN Duluth also took the #5 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,107 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UMN Duluth.
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%.
Full UMN Duluth Environmental Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. South Dakota State University is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $20,393 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at South Dakota State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,448 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UMN Morris.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of Minnesota - Morris
With a ranking of #6, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 38 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $20,719 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Iowa
Webster University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. Webster University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $75-$110k list, Webster has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Webster University is $24,708 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Webster University
With a ranking of #8, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Kansas 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 $22,804 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
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 more about Environmental Studies at KU
With a ranking of #9, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 21 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Bemidji State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $18,078 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Bemidji State University
St Olaf College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. St Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Olaf, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Olaf is $21,334 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 St Olaf College Environmental Studies Report
Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #11. 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. It costs about $25,710 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Gustavus Adolphus
Macalester College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Macalester is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $75-$110k list, Macalester has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $23,609 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Macalester.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 more about Environmental Studies at Macalester College
Luther College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Decorah, Iowa, and it awarded 15 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Luther also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Luther is $26,789 for Plains States Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Luther 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 $75-$110k list. Located in Collegeville, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
SJU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $25,639 for plains states region ecosystem studies students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Saint Johns University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at SJU
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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
- *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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