2023 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
13
Ranked Colleges
520
Degrees Awarded
$19,100
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Social Sciences is the 54th most popular major in the country with 18,997 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,991 and had an average of $24,438 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 520 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,486 and $31,143 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in general social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general social sciences programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general social sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
Top 13 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue University landed the #1 spot on the list. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 233 students in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,288 for plains states region social sciences students with aid per year to attend Bellevue University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Bellevue University General Social Sciences Report
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
UMN Morris also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $10,529 for plains states region social sciences 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%.
Full University of Minnesota - Morris General Social Sciences Report
Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences 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 #3 spot on the list. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 3 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $12,232 for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UMSL General Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $16,966 for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
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 more about General Social Sciences at UND
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 72 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $18,433 for Plains States Region Social Sciences 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%. 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
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 21 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Southeast Missouri State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
Full Southeast Missouri State University General Social Sciences Report
Metropolitan State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Metropolitan State University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 29 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Metro State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan State University is $16,044 for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 General Social Sciences at Metro State
Upper Iowa University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fayette, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Upper Iowa University is $24,063 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students with aid.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Upper Iowa University
Black Hills State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Spearfish, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BHSU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Black Hills State University is $16,961 for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Black Hills State University
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid 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 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bethel University Minnesota, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $28,178 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Bethel University Minnesota
With a ranking of #11, Doane University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Doane Crete is a small school located in Crete, Nebraska that handed out 3 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region social sciences students with aid list, Doane Crete has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Doane University is $23,440 for plains states region social sciences students with aid.
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%.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Doane Crete
Saint Louis University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region social sciences students with aid list, SLU has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $25,039 for plains states region social sciences students with aid per year to attend SLU.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 90%.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Saint Louis University
Saint Johns University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Minnesota. It awarded 3 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region social sciences students with aid list, SJU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $25,487 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students with aid per year to attend SJU.
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%.
Full Saint Johns University 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
- *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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