College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Colleges for Economics in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

53 Ranked Colleges
2,132 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that 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 Getting Aid” 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.

More Ways to Rank Economics Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Economics Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region economics students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 417 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for plains states region economics students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Economics at UMN Twin Cities

2

Out of the 53 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #2 spot on the list. UMSL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $12,232 for plains states region economics students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Economics at UMSL

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 50 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $16,002 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State University Economics Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UMN Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 9 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $10,529 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read more about Economics at University of Minnesota - Morris

5
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 135 students in 2020-2021.

Iowa also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,401 for plains states region economics students with aid.

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 88%.

Read more about Economics at Iowa

6

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 115 degrees to qualified ’s economics students 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 $16,559 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Economics Report

7

University of Northern Iowa ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for plains states region economics students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Northern Iowa Economics Report

8
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #8, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 25 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,966 for plains states region economics students with aid 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 UND

9
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Truman State is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,301 for plains states region economics students with aid per year to attend Truman State University.

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%. 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 University Economics Report

10

Washington University in St Louis landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 110 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region economics students with aid list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $26,921 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at WUSTL

11
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #11, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 118 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $20,257 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Kansas Economics Report

12

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified ’s economics students 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 $17,013 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

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 85%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Economics Report

13

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid 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.

It costs about $13,914 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at University of Nebraska at Omaha

14

Fort Hays State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Hays, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 152 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,189 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid per year to attend FHSU.

Full FHSU Economics Report

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 27 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,505 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Economics Report

16

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University also took the #24 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,998 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

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 North Dakota State University

17
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. St. Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for plains states region economics students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Economics at Saint Cloud State University

18
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for plains states region economics students with aid.

Read more about Economics at Southeast Missouri State University

19

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $15,702 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid.

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 full report on Economics at University of Missouri - Kansas City

20
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. K -State is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 37 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,433 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid per year to attend K -State.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read more about Economics at Kansas State University

21

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. MSU Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $17,680 for plains states region economics students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MSU Moorhead Economics Report

22

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,159 for Plains States Region Economics students with aid per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Minnesota State Mankato Economics Report

23
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $17,634 for plains states region economics students with aid.

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 Economics at Winona State

24

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for plains states region economics students with aid.

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 Economics at Missouri State

25

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $12,925 for plains states region economics students with aid.

Read more about Economics at Northwest

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options