by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 261 schools across the Plains States Region to determine which have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Washington University in St Louis to be the best value (income $30-$48k) school in the Plains States Region in this year’s ranking. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Not only is Washington University in St Louis a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Missouri for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,928.
Out of the 261 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities has the honor of being ranked #1 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,356.
Read full value report on University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list means Missouri University of Science and Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Rolla, Missouri, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Missouri University of Science and Technology is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,340.
Read full value report on Missouri University of Science and Technology
The quality degree programs at Iowa State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Iowa State University has the honor of being ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,986.
The quality degree programs at Metropolitan Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region. This fairly large public school is located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Metropolitan Community College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,753.
St Charles Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Cottleville, Missouri.
Not only is St Charles Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Missouri for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,348.
University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Crookston is a small public school located in Crookston, Minnesota.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Crookston a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,525.
Learn More About Value at University of Minnesota - Crookston
University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small public school located in Morris, Minnesota.
University of Minnesota - Morris has the honor of being ranked #44 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,397.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. Hennepin Technical College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Hennepin Technical College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,295.
Garden City Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Garden City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Garden City Community College has the honor of being ranked #9 in Kansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,125.
Ranken Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ranken Technical College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $13,157.
University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
University of Minnesota - Duluth has the honor of being ranked #10 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,677.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,250.
Full Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Value Report
University of Northern Iowa landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
University of Northern Iowa has the honor of being ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $11,562.
Dakota College at Bottineau ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. MSU-Bottineau is a small public school situated in Bottineau, North Dakota.
The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,527.
Macalester College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. Macalester is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Macalester College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $11,010.
With a ranking of #17, Truman State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, the school is a small public institution.
Truman State University has the honor of being ranked #13 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,271.
St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
St Cloud Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #32 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,335.
Read full value report on St Cloud Technical and Community College
University of Iowa came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is University of Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,089.
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. This large public school is located in Columbia, Missouri.
University of Missouri - Columbia has the honor of being ranked #4 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,992.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln has the honor of being ranked #1 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,585.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa.
Not only is Des Moines Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,682.
With a ranking of #23, Bismarck State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. Bismarck State College is a small public school located in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Not only is Bismarck State College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in North Dakota for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,198.
With a ranking of #24, Valley City State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region list. Valley City, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Valley City State University has the honor of being ranked #4 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,543.
Century College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Century College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,398.
Not only did these schools make the top 40 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Bellevue University | Bellevue, NE | Value Report |
| 42 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN | Value Report |
| 43 | University of Missouri - Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Value Report |
| 44 | College of Saint Mary | Omaha, NE | Value Report |
| 45 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | Kansas City, MO | Value Report |
| 46 | Maharishi International University | Fairfield, IA | Value Report |
| 47 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, NE | Value Report |
| 48 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | Value Report |
| 49 | Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN | Value Report |
| 50 | Barton County Community College | Great Bend, KS | Value Report |
| 51 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | Value Report |
| 52 | Mitchell Technical College | Mitchell, SD | Value Report |
| 52 | North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park, MN | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
