by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in the The Plains States Region? We have ranked 407 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology. You are viewing our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — see Customize Your Rankings below for aid-adjusted and by-degree views.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 407 schools to compile this 2027 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
See What’s Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 407 schools in the The Plains States Region to find which ones offer the best value. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
To determine a school’s value, we first add up average tuition, fees, and room and board — what a student pays before aid, which is why this is our No Aid ranking. But a school that delivers value must also be a great school overall. So we weigh that cost against outcomes like degree completion, educational resources, student-body caliber, and post-graduation earnings.
That balance of cost and outcomes is what drives the ranking below. See the full methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Salina Area Technical College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the The Plains States Region. Set in Salina, KS, Salina Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,128. The median program debt is $17,124. Salina Area Technical College alumni report median earnings of $42,175 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #2 on this year's best-value ranking in the The Plains States Region. Located in Omaha, NE, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,773. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Out of the 407 schools in the The Plains States Region in this year's value ranking, Central Community College landed the #3 spot. Located in Grand Island, NE, Central Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Central Community College students take on a median of $10,277 in debt. Median earnings reach $39,429 ten years out. Set against $10,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Williston State College one of the best values in the The Plains States Region. Set in Williston, ND, Williston State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,114 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,400 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $44,017 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $15,400 median debt.
Out of the 407 schools in the The Plains States Region in this year's value ranking, Hutchinson Community College landed the #5 spot. Based in Hutchinson, KS, Hutchinson Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $18,148. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,470. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a public school based in Liberal, KS. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $9,175. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,445 ten years after entry. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Charles Community College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Located in Cottleville, MO, St Charles Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt is $12,606. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,422 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,606 median debt.
Dodge City Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the The Plains States Region this year. Set in Dodge City, KS, Dodge City Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, while out-of-state students pay about $5,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,427 ten years after entry.
University Of Minnesota Morris came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Morris, MN, University Of Minnesota Morris is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Graduates carry a median of $21,080 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,919. That is a strong return on a $21,080 median debt. University Of Minnesota Morris admits about 75% of applicants.
Northeast Community College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Based in Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. The median program debt is $11,937. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for value in the The Plains States Region this year. Based in Topeka, KS, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Students borrow a median of $11,362 to complete their program here. Washburn Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $49,774 a decade after entry. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Nebraska Community College placed #12 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. Located in Scottsbluff, NE, Western Nebraska Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt is $14,507. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,729. That is a strong return on a $14,507 median debt.
Bismarck State College placed #13 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. Bismarck State College is a public school based in Bismarck, ND. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $7,331. The median program debt is $13,340. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid Plains Community College placed #14 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. Based in North Platte, NE, Mid Plains Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $4,530. The median program debt is $14,596. Mid Plains Community College alumni report median earnings of $40,059 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colby Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. Colby Community College is a public school based in Colby, KS. Students from in state pay about $4,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,830. Students borrow a median of $14,796 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Garden City Community College landed the #16 spot for value in the The Plains States Region this year. Set in Garden City, KS, Garden City Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Graduates carry a median of $11,084 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,704. That is a strong return on a $11,084 median debt.
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #17 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public school based in Sioux City, IA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Median earnings reach $40,473 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,886 median debt.
Southeast Community College Area placed #18 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. Set in Lincoln, NE, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Graduates carry a median of $14,935 in student loans. Southeast Community College Area alumni report median earnings of $43,405 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Ozarks placed #19 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Point Lookout, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $22,360. Median earnings reach $41,592 ten years out. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Riverland Community College landed the #20 spot for value in the The Plains States Region this year. Riverland Community College is a public school based in Austin, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,297. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,247 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. This public school is set in Wichita, KS. In-state tuition and fees average $7,237. Wichita Area Technical College students take on a median of $11,828 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,679. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.
Manhattan Area Technical College placed #22 among the best values in the The Plains States Region. Based in Manhattan, KS, Manhattan Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,844. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete their program here. Manhattan Area Technical College alumni report median earnings of $51,864 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coffeyville Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Coffeyville, KS, Coffeyville Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, compared with $4,680 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $12,838. Median earnings reach $35,246 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges for the money. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a public school based in Kansas City, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City students take on a median of $12,281 in debt. Median earnings reach $40,796 ten years out. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Located in Winona, MN, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Typical student debt is $27,081. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $58,170. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
These schools also landed near the top of this year’s value ranking:
To learn more about the schools below, just click their names:
| Rank | College | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Minnesota West Community And Technical College | Granite Falls, MN | Value Report |
| 52 | Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College | Hibbing, MN | Value Report |
| 53 | Barton County Community College | Great Bend, KS | Value Report |
| 54 | Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | Value Report |
| 55 | Valley City State University | Valley City, ND | Value Report |
| 56 | Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa, IA | Value Report |
| 57 | Allen County Community College | Iola, KS | Value Report |
| 58 | Truman State University | Kirksville, MO | Value Report |
| 59 | State Fair Community College | Sedalia, MO | Value Report |
| 60 | North Central Kansas Technical College | Beloit, KS | Value Report |
| 61 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar | Calmar, IA | Value Report |
| 62 | Highland Community College Highland | Highland, KS | Value Report |
Also worth considering for the money:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 407 ranked schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: Region · 407 schools evaluated. References
More about our data sources and methodologies.