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2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

53 Ranked Colleges
2,132 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Economics is the 19th most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,132 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,488 and $23,349 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 53 colleges that offer a degree in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 110 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WUSTL is $8,149 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Washington University in St Louis Economics Report

2

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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 417 students in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $12,911 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Economics Report

3
Grinnell crest
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grinnell College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

Grinnell also took the #4 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,112 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Grinnell.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Grinnell College

4

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $6,691 for Plains States Region Economics 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 Economics Report

5

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 32 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $11,291 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 UMSL Economics Report

6

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 115 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,715 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Economics at Mizzou

7
Carleton crest
Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

Carleton College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northfield, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Carleton has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,991 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Carleton College.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carleton College Economics Report

8

Iowa State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $14,641 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Iowa State

9

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 27 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,364 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Minnesota - 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%.

Read full report on Economics at University of Minnesota - Duluth

10
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 90 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

St. Olaf also took the #5 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Olaf is $15,453 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Read more about Economics at St Olaf College

11
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 23 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Truman State is $12,654 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. 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 Truman State Economics Report

12
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UND also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $15,818 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UND.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at University of North Dakota

13
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $18,586 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Economics at University of Kansas

14

University of Northern Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 28 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,287 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Economics at UNI

15
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 135 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $18,026 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Economics at Iowa

16

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. UNL is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $15,394 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Economics at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

17
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It awarded 19 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus College is $20,188 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Economics at Gustavus Adolphus College

18

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 16 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,071 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

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%.

Read full report on Economics at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

19
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #19, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 16 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,140 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Saint Cloud State University

20

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $15,809 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at MSU Moorhead

21
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Macalester College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Macalester has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $15,953 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%. The undergraduate 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.

Read full report on Economics at Macalester College

22

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $13,574 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at UNOMAHA

23

Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 152 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $13,208 for Plains States Region Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Economics at Fort Hays State University

24

With a ranking of #24, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $15,768 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at UMKC

25
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 14 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $13,157 for plains states region economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Economics at Southeast Missouri State University

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