by our College Data Analytics TeamWashington University In St Louis ranks #1 of 432 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best 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 75% six-year graduation rate and $82,320 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, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **432** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 432 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.
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Washington University In St Louis leads the 432 ranked colleges in the Plains States Region, followed by University Of Minnesota Twin Cities (#2) and Mayo Medical School (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found Washington University In St Louis to be the best college in the Plains States Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Median early-career earnings reach $68,303. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #2 place in the Plains States Region. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. About 85% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,395. The median student debt is $21,577.
Mayo Medical School came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Plains States Region. Mayo Medical School is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $90,374. Mayo Medical School students take on a median of $27,164 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned it the #4 place in the Plains States Region. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $65,183. Graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
Out of the 432 colleges in the Plains States Region in this year's ranking, University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #5 spot. Set in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,134. Graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
Carleton College landed the #6 spot in the Plains States Region this year. Based in Northfield, MN, Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Students from in state pay about $68,892 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,566.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the Plains States Region this year. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,760. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,599. Graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans.
University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $57,375. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete a degree here.
Drake University placed #9 among the best colleges in the Plains States Region. Located in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,273.
University Of Nebraska Medical Center placed #10 among the best colleges in the Plains States Region. Set in Omaha, NE, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,973, compared with $39,962 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $85,223 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,905.
St Louis College Of Pharmacy landed the #11 spot in the Plains States Region this year. Based in Saint Louis, MO, St Louis College Of Pharmacy is a private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,550. St Louis College Of Pharmacy graduates report median early-career earnings of $111,406.
Creighton University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,856. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,369. Graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans.
Iowa State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,204. Graduates carry a median of $23,496 in student loans.
Grinnell College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Grinnell, IA, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,196. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,888. Grinnell College students take on a median of $17,154 in debt.
University Of Kansas came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,289. The median student debt is $23,608.
St Olaf College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Northfield, MN, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. St Olaf College graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,848. St Olaf College students take on a median of $24,507 in debt.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. About 64% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,984 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,532. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete a degree here.
Saint Johns University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Collegeville, MN. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,816. Median early-career earnings reach $47,238. Graduates carry a median of $26,646 in student loans.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Lincoln, NE. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates 67% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,755. University Of Nebraska Lincoln students take on a median of $22,386 in debt.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Winona, MN, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,785. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete a degree here.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences landed the #21 spot in the Plains States Region this year. A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Kirksville, MO. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $89,586.
Rockhurst University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rockhurst University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,966. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,849. The median student debt is $24,111.
University Of Minnesota Rochester placed #23 among the best colleges in the Plains States Region. Set in Rochester, MN, University Of Minnesota Rochester is a public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $15,016 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,988 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,115 to complete a degree here.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Set in Duluth, MN, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,572. Graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #25 among the best colleges in the Plains States Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Peter, MN. Gustavus Adolphus College posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,076. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,396. The median student debt is $26,197.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 432 in the Plains States Region. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
These 15 colleges rank #51 through #65 of 432 in the Plains States Region. Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD |
| 52 | University Of Nebraska At Omaha | Omaha, NE |
| 53 | Martin Luther College | New Ulm, MN |
| 54 | Wartburg College | Waverly, IA |
| 55 | Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing | Saint Louis, MO |
| 56 | Simpson College | Indianola, IA |
| 57 | Northwestern College Iowa | Orange City, IA |
| 58 | William Jewell College | Liberty, MO |
| 59 | Salina Area Technical College | Salina, KS |
| 60 | Central College | Pella, IA |
| 61 | University Of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD |
| 62 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 63 | Central Community College | Grand Island, NE |
| 64 | Alexandria Technical And Community College | Alexandria, MN |
| 65 | Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon, IA |
These 22 colleges rank #66 through #87 of 432 in the Plains States Region. These schools also stood out this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
