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2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

18 Ranked Colleges
458 Degrees Awarded
$21,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Environmental Studies is the 85th most popular major in the country with 9,869 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

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 Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in environmental studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality environmental studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Environmental Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 State University

#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,412 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Morris.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full UMN Morris Environmental Studies Report

#3

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 #3 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at Saint Cloud State University

#4 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #4 spot on the list. UNL is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,208 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#5

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota 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 Getting Aid. South Dakota State University is a fairly large school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 8 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid 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. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at South Dakota State

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

University of Iowa landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 31 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid per year to attend Iowa.

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 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at Iowa

#11 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth 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 Getting Aid ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Environmental Studies Report

#8

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $18,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Kansas State University

#9

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 47 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,918 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid 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 more about Environmental Studies at University of Kansas

#10

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Saint Johns University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Minnesota. It awarded 12 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Johns University is $24,271 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at Saint Johns University

#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 Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid list, Gustavus Adolphus has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,093 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Gustavus Adolphus Environmental Studies Report

#12

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Luther College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Luther is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 13 bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Luther also made our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $23,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid per year to attend Luther College.

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 Luther College Environmental Studies Report

#13

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

St Olaf College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. St Olaf College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 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. It costs about $23,543 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid per year to attend St. Olaf.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at St Olaf College

#14

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Drake University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Drake University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Des Moines, Iowa. 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 with aid list, Drake has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $29,432 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid per year to attend Drake.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%. 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 Drake University Environmental Studies Report

#15

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 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 with aid list, Bethel University Minnesota has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $25,191 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Environmental Studies Report

#16

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ecosystem studies students in 2019-2020.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Thomas Minnesota is $29,155 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid.

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

Read full report on Environmental Studies at UST MN

#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 Getting Aid ranking. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ecosystem studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UD also made our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for University of Dubuque is $26,748 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Ecosystem Studies students with aid.

Read more about Environmental Studies at University of Dubuque

#18

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Macalester College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid list, Macalester has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macalester College is $28,426 for plains states region bachelor’s degree ecosystem studies students with aid.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Environmental Studies at Macalester

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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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