2027 Best Best Schools in the The Plains States Region
Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Best in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in best. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 22 best degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $92,069. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $68,911 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
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Drake University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. Drake University awarded about 33 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $67,297 in their early career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Hamline University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at Hamline University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $76,773. Hamline University graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans.
More information about a degree in best from Hamline University
University Of South Dakota came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This large public university is located in the town of Vermillion. University Of South Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. About 30 best degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of South Dakota earn around $67,719 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Dakota graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans.
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University Of Kansas earned the #6 position for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $58,188 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,608.
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University Of North Dakota came in at #7 for best this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. University Of North Dakota awarded about 26 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $64,701 in their early career. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans.
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Capella University earned the #8 position for best this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Capella University graduates 20% of students within six years. About 23 best degrees were awarded at Capella University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Capella University earn a median of $91,474 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa came in at #9 for best this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
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Saint Cloud State University placed #10 among the best best schools. This large public university is located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. About 12 best degrees were awarded at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $51,625 in their early career. Saint Cloud State University graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete this degree.
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Metropolitan State University placed #12 among the best best schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Metropolitan State University awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Metropolitan State University earn around $54,195 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,822.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #13 for best this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. University Of Nebraska At Omaha awarded about 60 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $58,548 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates carry a median of $21,783 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #14 spot for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 25 best degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $49,846 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete this degree.
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Wichita State University earned the #15 position for best this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. Wichita State University awarded about 49 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Wichita State University earn around $52,982 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,262.
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Missouri State University Springfield landed the #16 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 best students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $42,399 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408.
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Park University landed the #17 spot for best this year. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Park University graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 best students who graduated with this degree at Park University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $62,141 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,112 to complete this degree.
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Walden University placed #18 among the best best schools. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 209 best degrees were awarded at Walden University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $67,390 in their early career. Walden University graduates carry a median of $49,361 in student loans.
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Upper Iowa University came in at #19 for best this year. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 best students who graduated with this degree at Upper Iowa University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $63,921. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
