2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in the Plains States Region for Master's Degrees
122
Colleges
$10,088
Avg Graduate Tuition & Fees*
$9,389
Avg Room & Board*
It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Choosing the Best School for You
We analyzed 122 schools across the Plains States Region to determine which have the best value Master's Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Our Methodology
Our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied.
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 school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Additional Rankings
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. Are you more interested in the best value schools in your area? Try narrowing this list
by location. Also, you may want to check out our other
college rankings.
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.
Best Value Master's Degree Schools (No Aid) in the Plains States Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Concordia University, Nebraska the best value (no aid) school in the Plains States Region for students working on their master’s degree. Concordia University, Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seward, Nebraska.
Concordia University, Nebraska has the honor of being ranked #3 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,250 a year.
Learn More About Value at Concordia University, Nebraska
Out of the 122 master’s degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Walden University landed the #2 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private for-profit school.
Walden University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,931 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on Walden University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Morningside College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Morningside College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux City, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Morningside College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,926 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Morningside College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capella University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Capella University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Not only is Capella University a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,784 a year.
Full Capella University Value Report
The quality degree programs at Valley City State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region. Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, North Dakota.
Not only is Valley City State University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in North Dakota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,642 per year for graduate students.
Full Valley City State University Value Report
University of Mary ranked #6 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. UMary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota.
University of Mary has the honor of being ranked #1 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,294 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on University of Mary
Northwestern College did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. NWC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange City, Iowa.
Not only is Northwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,360 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Northwestern College
With a ranking of #8, Mount Marty University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Mount Marty is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Yankton, South Dakota.
Not only is Mount Marty University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,204 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on Mount Marty University
Webster University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Webster is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Webster University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Missouri for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $24,620 a year.
Learn More About Value at Webster University
North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in Fargo, North Dakota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, North Dakota State University - Main Campus is ranked #3 for quality in the state of North Dakota. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,106 a year.
Read full value report on North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Minot State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. MSU is located in Minot, North Dakota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Minot State University has the honor of being ranked #4 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,155 a year.
Full Minot State University Value Report
Dakota State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Madison, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Dakota State University a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,079 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Dakota State University
Hamline University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Hamline is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Hamline University has the honor of being ranked #5 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,382 a year.
Full Hamline University Value Report
Park University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Parkville, Missouri, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Park University a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Missouri for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,519 a year.
Read full value report on Park University
Drake University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Not only is Drake University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $23,276 a year.
Read full value report on Drake University
Maryville University of Saint Louis ranked #16 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Not only is Maryville University of Saint Louis a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Missouri for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $27,696 a year.
Full Maryville University of Saint Louis Value Report
With a ranking of #17, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Mankato, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota State University - Mankato a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,506 a year.
Read full value report on Minnesota State University - Mankato
University of South Dakota came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is University of South Dakota a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,368 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on University of South Dakota
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota ranked #19 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,810 a year.
Read full value report on Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
With a ranking of #20, University of Jamestown did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Jamestown, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
University of Jamestown has the honor of being ranked #7 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $12,422 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on University of Jamestown
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #21 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bethel University Minnesota is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $22,850 a year.
Full Bethel University Minnesota Value Report
Bellevue University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Bellevue University a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Nebraska for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,413 per year for graduate students.
Full Bellevue University Value Report
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Maryville, Missouri.
Not only is Northwest Missouri State University a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Missouri for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,612 a year.
Full Northwest Missouri State University Value Report
Southwest Baptist University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southwest Baptist University is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,538 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Southwest Baptist University
Truman State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, the school is a small public institution.
Truman State University has the honor of being ranked #10 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,237 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on Truman State University
