2027 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Industrial & Organizational Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/industrial-and-organizational-psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial & organizational psychology students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial & organizational psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Nebraska At Omaha, our #1 best value for industrial & organizational psychology in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $21,783. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $48,906. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $50,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Southeast Missouri State University one of the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $57,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Avila University earned it the #4 place for industrial & organizational psychology. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,200. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $29,750. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Avila University generally make around $56,895. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & organizational psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $74,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Emporia State University came in at #6 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,419 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $23,131. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $46,440. That is a strong return on a $23,131 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Bellevue University came in at #7 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $24,846. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,846 median debt.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $24,408. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University landed the #9 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $57,897. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #10 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $73,323 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #11 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $26,586. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $62,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Midamerica Nazarene University placed #13 among the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Located in the suburb of Olathe, Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,174. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $63,799. Set against $25,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Walden University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $55,500. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Walden University earn a median of $51,716 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.