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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

15 Ranked Colleges
395 Degrees Awarded
$16,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 19,742 people earned their degree in general social sciences, making the major the 51st most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,665 and had an average of $22,423 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 518 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,650 and $34,523 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 395 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general social sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The social sciences 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $3,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Morris General Social Sciences Report

#2

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,916 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UND.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Social Sciences at University of North Dakota

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 2 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,781 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 General Social Sciences at Minnesota State Mankato

#4

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Johns University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. SJU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Minnesota. It awarded 4 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Johns University is $15,628 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 General Social Sciences at Saint Johns University

#5

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kansas State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 95 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

K -State also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $15,089 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on General Social Sciences at K -State

#6

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

College of Saint Benedict ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSB is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,956 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend College of Saint Benedict.

The low student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at CSB

#7

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Metro State also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University is $14,812 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Metropolitan State University

#8

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 104 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Bellevue University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,777 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bellevue University.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Bellevue University

#9

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Black Hills State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Black Hills State University is a small school located in Spearfish, South Dakota that handed out 6 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

BHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend BHSU is $14,206 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Black Hills State University

#10

Central College

Pella, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

Central College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Central College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pella, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Central has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,207 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Central College

#11

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fayette, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Upper Iowa University is $17,928 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at UIU

#12

Doane University

Crete, Nebraska
#14 in overall quality

Doane University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Doane Crete is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Crete, Nebraska. It awarded 3 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Doane Crete has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Doane University is $23,349 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Doane University General Social Sciences Report

#13

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bethel University Minnesota 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 social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Bethel University Minnesota has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $19,525 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Bethel University Minnesota

#14

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Benedictine College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Benedictine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Atchison, Kansas. It awarded 4 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Benedictine College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Benedictine College is $18,932 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on General Social Sciences at Benedictine College

#15

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UST MN also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UST MN is $26,365 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota General Social Sciences Report

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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.

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