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2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in the Plains States Region

284 Colleges
$10,242 Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$8,223 Avg Room & Board*

There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking.

In This Year's Value Report:

Choosing the Best School for You

After analyzing 284 schools in the Plains States Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.

Our Methodology

Our Best 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. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.

To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.

Additional Rankings

You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.

With Aid (All Income Levels) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $0-$30k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $30-$48k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $48-$75k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $75-$110k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income Over $110k) Best Value Degrees
To get a better picture of the best value schools for your income range or for whether or not you'll receive aid, 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. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.

Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.

Best Value Schools (No Aid) in the Plains States Region

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1

Our analysis found Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to be the best value (no aid) school in the Plains States Region in this year’s ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Kansas City, Missouri.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,152 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,082 a year.

Learn More About Value at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

2
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

The quality degree programs at Hennepin Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Hennepin Technical College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,675 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,934 a year.

Full Hennepin Technical College Value Report

3
LATI crest
Lake Area Technical Institute
Watertown, South Dakota

A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list means Lake Area Technical Institute is a great place for students working on their degree. Watertown, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Not only is Lake Area Technical Institute a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,988 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,270 a year.

Learn More About Value at Lake Area Technical Institute

4
Logan University crest
Logan University
Chesterfield, Missouri

A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list means Logan University is a great place for students working on their degree. Logan University is located in Chesterfield, Missouri and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,936 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,436 per year for graduate students.

Full Logan University Value Report

5
Ranken Technical College crest
Ranken Technical College
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ranken Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Not only is Ranken Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Missouri for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,914 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,750 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Ranken Technical College

6
DCTC crest
Dakota County Technical College
Rosemount, Minnesota

Dakota County Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. DCTC is located in Rosemount, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dakota County Technical College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,678 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,470 per year for graduate students.

Full Dakota County Technical College Value Report

7
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. 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 for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,148 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,784 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Capella University

8

With a ranking of #8, Metropolitan Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Omaha, Nebraska.

Not only is Metropolitan Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Nebraska for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $10,935 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,255 a year.

Read full value report on Metropolitan Community College

9
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine crest
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Rochester, Minnesota

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is located in Rochester, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.

The average cost without aid for the school is $19,364 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,108 a year.

Full Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Value Report

10
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Not only is Bellevue University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Nebraska for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,993 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,413 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Bellevue University

11
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #11, Walden University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Walden University is a large private for-profit school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Walden University has the honor of being ranked #8 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,298 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,931 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Walden University

12
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Century College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money 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 cost without aid for the school is $13,049 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,142 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Century College

13
Normandale Community College crest
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minnesota

Normandale Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.

Normandale Community College has the honor of being ranked #22 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,049 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $8,260 a year.

Full Normandale Community College Value Report

14
Mitchell Tech crest
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell, South Dakota

Mitchell Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Mitchell Technical College is a small public school located in Mitchell, South Dakota.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Mitchell Technical College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of South Dakota. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,524 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,000 a year.

Read full value report on Mitchell Technical College

15
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, Missouri

Park University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Parkville, Missouri.

Park University has the honor of being ranked #9 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,937 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,519 a year.

Learn More About Value at Park University

16
Ozark Christian College crest
Ozark Christian College
Joplin, Missouri

With a ranking of #16, Ozark Christian College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Ozark Christian College is located in Joplin, Missouri and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.

The average cost without aid for the school is $20,530 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,270 a year.

Learn More About Value at Ozark Christian College

17
BSC crest
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck State College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Bismarck State College has the honor of being ranked #5 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,387 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,457 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Bismarck State College

18

With a ranking of #18, Northwestern Health Sciences University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. NWHSU is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.

The average cost without aid for the school is $24,105 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,046 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Northwestern Health Sciences University

19

Concordia University, Nebraska came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Seward, Nebraska.

Concordia University, Nebraska has the honor of being ranked #4 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $45,910 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,250 per year for graduate students.

Full Concordia University, Nebraska Value Report

20
MLC crest
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, Minnesota

Martin Luther College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in New Ulm, Minnesota.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,590 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $12,080 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Martin Luther College

21
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in Brookings, South Dakota.

South Dakota State University has the honor of being ranked #1 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,863 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,971 per year for graduate students.

Full South Dakota State University Value Report

22
Garden City Community College crest
Garden City Community College
Garden City, Kansas

Garden City Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. This small public school is located in Garden City, Kansas.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Garden City Community College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Kansas. The average cost without aid for the school is $10,846 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,826 a year.

Read full value report on Garden City Community College

23
Anoka Technical College crest
Anoka Technical College
Anoka, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, Anoka Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Anoka Technical College is a public institution located in Anoka, Minnesota.

Not only is Anoka Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,851 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,776 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Anoka Technical College

24

With a ranking of #24, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Alexandria Technical & Community College is ranked #36 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,372 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,462 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Alexandria Technical & Community College

25
Valley City State University crest
Valley City State University
Valley City, North Dakota

Valley City State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. This small public school is located in Valley City, North Dakota.

Valley City 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 without aid for the school is $19,888 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,642 a year.

Read full value report on Valley City State University

Rest of the Top 15% Value Schools (No Aid) in the Plains States Region

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
MSU Crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
29
30
31
JCCC Crest
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kansas
32
33
Dakota State Crest
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota

34
North Hennepin Community College Crest
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

35
UMary Crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota
36
37
Clarkson College Crest
Clarkson College
Omaha, Nebraska
38
39
Ridgewater College Crest
Ridgewater College
Willmar, Minnesota
40
41
SCC Crest
St Charles Community College
Cottleville, Missouri
42
43
IHCC Crest
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

View Best Value Schools (No Aid) Nationwide >

All Majors and Fields of Study >

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking:

Rank College Location Value
44 Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS Value Report
45 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Value Report
46 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN Value Report
47 Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD Value Report
48 Columbia College Columbia, MO Value Report
49 Wayne State College Wayne, NE Value Report
50 Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Value Report
51 Butler Community College El Dorado, KS Value Report
52 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Value Report
53 Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Value Report
53 Webster University Saint Louis, MO Value Report
55 Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN Value Report
56 Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN Value Report
57 State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO Value Report

More Rankings >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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