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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

132 Ranked Colleges
11,549 Degrees Awarded
$10,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 32,592 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,310 and $28,608 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 11,549 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 132 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

Out of the 132 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #1 spot on the list. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $3,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Education Report

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 132 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 391 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,418 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at UMN Twin Cities

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 141 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #3 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 132 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Olaf College landed the #4 spot on the list. St. Olaf is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 23 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $12,276 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St Olaf College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Education at St Olaf College

#5

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#22 in overall quality

Out of the 132 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 169 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Valley City State University also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend Valley City State University is $8,434 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Valley City State University

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 268 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $10,843 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Education at Iowa State

#7

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

Minot State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 90 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend MSU is $8,187 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full MSU Education Report

#7 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $12,544 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University Education Report

#9

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 573 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #5 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,495 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 University of Northern Iowa Education Report

#24 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 247 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,595 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Read more about Education at University of Missouri - Columbia

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNL is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 324 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $13,508 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Education at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#12

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 193 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend St. Cloud State University is $11,274 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at St. Cloud State University

#13

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Dickinson, North Dakota, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for DSU is $7,955 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Dickinson State University Education Report

#14

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#17 in overall quality

Winona State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 273 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,606 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Winona State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Winona State

#15

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 149 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,838 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMSL.

Read more about Education at University of Missouri - St Louis

Top 20% in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 206 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, Minnesota State Mankato is in the top on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,781 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Minnesota State Mankato

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#20 in overall quality

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 159 students in 2019-2020.

UND also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $11,916 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UND.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at UND

#18

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 129 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $11,658 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Education at Bemidji State University

#19

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Pittsburg, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 117 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,973 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pitt State.

Read full report on Education at Pitt State

With a ranking of #20, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Hays, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 338 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend FHSU is $9,882 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Fort Hays State University Education Report

#21

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. WSC is a small school located in Wayne, Nebraska that handed out 157 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend WSC is $11,534 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at WSC

#22

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska

College of Saint Mary landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. College of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 11 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,336 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend College of Saint Mary.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Education at Saint Mary

Missouri Southern State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Missouri Southern is a public institution located in Joplin, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 111 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern is $8,416 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Missouri Southern Education Report

With a ranking of #24, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 219 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $11,460 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UNOMAHA Education Report

#25

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
Top 25% in overall quality

Emporia State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. ESU is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 218 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Emporia State University is $11,964 for plains states region bachelor’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Education at Emporia State University

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Horadrim.

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