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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

16 Ranked Colleges
1,481 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 11,380 people earned their degree in general journalism, making the major the 69th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,481 general journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in general journalism. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general journalism programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general journalism program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for General Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 258 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $7,698 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities General Journalism Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 488 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou also made our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,005 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia General Journalism Report

3
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 170 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,554 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Journalism at Iowa

4

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $9,766 for Plains States Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at Iowa State

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

UNL also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,672 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNL.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Journalism at UNL

6
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #6, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 257 students in 2020-2021.

KU also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,666 for Plains States Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend KU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full KU General Journalism Report

7

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,843 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth General Journalism Report

8
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. K -State is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 83 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $13,436 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full K -State General Journalism Report

9
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

With a ranking of #9, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,171 for Plains States Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Dakota State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at South Dakota State

10

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s journalism students in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,381 for Plains States Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State General Journalism Report

11
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #11, Webster University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Webster is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

Webster did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Webster University is $18,047 for Plains States Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at Webster University

12
WSU crest
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WSU is $11,687 for Plains States Region Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Journalism at Wichita State University

13
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Charles, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $12,948 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University General Journalism Report

14
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 7 ’s journalism degrees in 2020-2021.

Bethel University Minnesota not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $21,313 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bethel University Minnesota.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Journalism at Bethel University Minnesota

15
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

Creighton University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Creighton is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s journalism degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Creighton, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Creighton University is $23,398 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Journalism at Creighton University

16
St. Ambrose University crest
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s journalism degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

St. Ambrose University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Journalism Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,729 for plains states region journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Ambrose University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Journalism at Saint Ambrose University

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