by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the The Plains States Region, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 431 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed graduate schools 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Washington University In St Louis this year in the The Plains States Region. Based in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,303. The median student debt is $17,553.
You'll be in good company at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $56,395. Graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
Out of the 431 graduate schools in the The Plains States Region in this year's ranking, Mayo Medical School landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, MN. Students from in state pay about $9,040 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $90,374. Students borrow a median of $27,164 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 431 graduate schools in the The Plains States Region in this year's ranking, University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #4 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. About 77% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,183. Typical student debt is $23,923.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the The Plains States Region. Located in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $53,134. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete a degree here.
St Louis College Of Pharmacy placed #6 among the best graduate schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in Saint Louis, MO, St Louis College Of Pharmacy is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,550. Median early-career earnings reach $111,406.
Carleton College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Northfield, MN, Carleton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Carleton College posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete a degree here.
University Of Nebraska Medical Center placed #8 among the best graduate schools in the The Plains States Region. Located 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. Median early-career earnings reach $85,223. Students borrow a median of $20,905 to complete a degree here.
University Of Iowa came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Median early-career earnings reach $57,375. University Of Iowa students take on a median of $24,463 in debt.
Drake University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,228. Drake University students take on a median of $22,273 in debt.
Creighton University landed the #11 spot in the The Plains States Region this year. Set in Omaha, NE, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Median early-career earnings reach $64,369. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete a degree here.
Iowa State University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,900. Typical student debt is $23,495.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the The Plains States Region this year. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Median early-career earnings reach $65,599. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete a degree here.
St Olaf College landed the #14 spot in the The Plains States Region this year. Based in Northfield, MN, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,760. St Olaf College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,848. St Olaf College students take on a median of $24,507 in debt.
Grinnell College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Grinnell, IA, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Grinnell College posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,196. Median early-career earnings reach $38,888. Students borrow a median of $17,154 to complete a degree here.
University Of Kansas placed #16 among the best graduate schools in the The Plains States Region. Based in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,608.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school based in Winona, MN. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,080. Median early-career earnings reach $69,785. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota students take on a median of $27,081 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Rochester came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Rochester, MN, University Of Minnesota Rochester is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,016. University Of Minnesota Rochester graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,988. Students borrow a median of $22,115 to complete a degree here.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #19 spot in the The Plains States Region this year. Based in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,532 early in their careers. Missouri University Of Science And Technology students take on a median of $25,187 in debt.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Lincoln, NE. University Of Nebraska Lincoln posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,755. Graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans.
Rockhurst University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit school based in Kansas City, MO. Rockhurst University graduates 74% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Rockhurst University graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,849. Rockhurst University students take on a median of $24,111 in debt.
Saint Johns University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Collegeville, MN, Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,816. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,238. Saint Johns University students take on a median of $26,646 in debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Duluth, MN, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,572. Typical student debt is $24,624.
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Peter, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,076. Median early-career earnings reach $44,396. Students borrow a median of $26,197 to complete a degree here.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences placed #25 among the best graduate schools in the The Plains States Region. A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Kirksville, MO. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,586.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
