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

8 Ranked Colleges
82 Degrees Awarded
$29,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,353 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,270 and $21,774 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 82 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,701 and $106,703 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 8 colleges that offer a degree in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the economics program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The economics 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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 8 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington University in St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562.

Read more about Economics at WUSTL

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 29 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.

Full UMN Twin Cities Economics Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 13 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at Iowa State University

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 1 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Economics Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UNL also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNL are $19,513, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 6 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613.

Full University of Iowa Economics Report

#7

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at K -State

#8

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#4 in overall quality

University of Kansas ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007.

Read more about Economics at KU

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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 pixabay.

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