by our College Data Analytics TeamWashington University In St Louis ranks #1 of 200 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in the Plains States Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 64% six-year graduation rate and $66,900 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the Plains States Region, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **200** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 200 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Washington University In St Louis leads the 200 ranked colleges in the Plains States Region, followed by University Of St Thomas Minnesota (#2) and Drake University (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Washington University In St Louis earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Plains States Region. Set in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,303. Washington University In St Louis students take on a median of $17,553 in debt.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Plains States Region. Set in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Thomas Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,183. University Of St Thomas Minnesota students take on a median of $23,923 in debt.
Out of the 200 colleges in the Plains States Region in this year's ranking, Drake University landed the #3 spot. Located in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drake University posts a six-year graduation rate of 73%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,228. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Rockhurst University, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rockhurst University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $70,849. The median student debt is $24,111.
Linn State Technical College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Plains States Region. Linn State Technical College is a public school based in Linn, MO. Students from in state pay about $8,160 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,538. Graduates carry a median of $11,042 in student loans.
Winona State University landed the #6 spot in the Plains States Region this year. Located in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,109. Winona State University students take on a median of $24,551 in debt.
Bismarck State College did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Bismarck, ND. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Bismarck State College graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,364. Bismarck State College students take on a median of $13,340 in debt.
Kansas State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,543. Typical student debt is $23,546.
Dordt College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux Center, IA. Dordt College graduates 74% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Dordt College graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,926. The median student debt is $21,812.
Northwestern College Minnesota came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,857. Northwestern College Minnesota students take on a median of $23,505 in debt.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,088. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete a degree here.
South Dakota State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. South Dakota State University is a public school based in Brookings, SD. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete a degree here.
Mitchell Technical Institute ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Mitchell, SD, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,686. The median student debt is $12,730.
Pittsburg State University landed the #14 spot in the Plains States Region this year. Set in Pittsburg, KS, Pittsburg State University is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,744. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,669.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #15 spot in the Plains States Region this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $29,026.
Bethel University Minnesota did well this year, earning the #16 position. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Bethel University Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Bethel University Minnesota graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,465. Graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans.
Allen College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Allen College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waterloo, IA. In-state tuition and fees run about $24,787. Median early-career earnings reach $82,049. Graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Alexandria, MN, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,368. The median student debt is $14,054.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Cloud, MN, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Saint Cloud State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,625. The median student debt is $25,076.
Midamerica Nazarene University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Olathe, KS, Midamerica Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,174. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,799. Midamerica Nazarene University students take on a median of $25,740 in debt.
Dunwoody College Of Technology came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,477. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,751. Dunwoody College Of Technology students take on a median of $18,973 in debt.
Flint Hills Technical College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Emporia, KS, Flint Hills Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,944 in tuition and fees. Flint Hills Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,435. Typical student debt is $14,690.
Bellevue University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Bellevue, NE, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellevue University posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,873. Median early-career earnings reach $61,548. Typical student debt is $27,852.
North Dakota State College Of Science placed #24 among the best colleges in the Plains States Region. Set in Wahpeton, ND, North Dakota State College Of Science is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,974, with out-of-state students paying around $6,973. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,989. North Dakota State College Of Science students take on a median of $15,706 in debt.
Southeast Technical Institute landed the #25 spot in the Plains States Region this year. This public school is set in Sioux Falls, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $7,650. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,654. Southeast Technical Institute students take on a median of $18,442 in debt.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 200 in the Plains States Region. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
