2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 35th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,296 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,903 and $30,143 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,373 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 30 colleges that offered a degree in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and 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 education program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
MSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minot State University are $9,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Duluth are $28,606, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on General Education at University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fort Hays State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 187 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students with aid list, FHSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fort Hays State University are $11,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwest Minnesota State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 124 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Southwest Minnesota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Minnesota State University are $8,526, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Southwest Minnesota State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 18 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about General Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato
Winona State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State University are $12,378, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about General Education at Winona State University
Iowa State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on General Education at Iowa State University
With a ranking of #8, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Bemidji State University also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bemidji State University are $9,112.
With a ranking of #9, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UND is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Iowa ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 26 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Martin Luther College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. New Ulm, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.
MLC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at MLC are $5,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Augustana University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Augustana University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 128 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students with aid list, Augustana Sioux Falls has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Augustana University are $36,480.
Read full report on General Education at Augustana University
Hamline University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Hamline also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hamline are $11,577, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #14, Fontbonne University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 21 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fontbonne University are $14,400.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 206 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
SMU MN also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota are $10,260, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota General Education Report
Grand View University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Grand View University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand View University are $9,170, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Grand View University
St Catherine University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Kate’s, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #18, Capella University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school handed out 86 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Capella University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Southwest Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Bolivar, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 73 students in 2019-2020.
Southwest Baptist University also took the #15 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwest Baptist University are $5,423, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Southwest Baptist University
University of Saint Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. University of St. Mary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Leavenworth, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of St. Mary, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Saint Mary are $11,124, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #21, Baker University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Baker is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Baldwin City, Kansas. It awarded 70 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Baker also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baker University are $11,844, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Rockhurst University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.
Rockhurst also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rockhurst are $16,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Education at Rockhurst University
Webster University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
Webster not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Webster University are $13,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #24, University of Northwestern - St Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwestern is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 5 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northwestern - St Paul are $8,982.
Saint Louis University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. SLU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree education students with aid list, SLU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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