2026 Best Value Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Crowder College the best value for a degree in education in the The Plains States Region. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,104, with out-of-state students paying around $5,784. Typical student debt for education graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Crowder College generally make around $19,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earned it the #2 place for education. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Education graduates carry a median of $7,199 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City generally make around $46,660. Set against $7,199 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in education will find it at Northeast Community College, which ranked #3. Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Students borrow a median of $11,799 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $24,710 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $47,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Typical student debt for education graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
St Charles Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $12,606. Early-career education graduates make about $47,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colby Community College placed #7 among the best values for education. Colby Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Colby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, compared with $5,830 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $14,796 in student loans. Education graduates of Colby Community College earn a median of $40,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,796 median debt.
Indian Hills Community College landed the #8 spot for education value this year. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Education graduates carry a median of $15,390 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $49,626. That is a strong return on a $15,390 median debt.
Western Nebraska Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,410. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dodge City Community College earned the #10 position for value in education this year. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, compared with $5,850 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,427 ten years after entry.
Southeast Community College Area placed #11 among the best values for education. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $44,877. That is a strong return on a $14,935 median debt.
North Iowa Area Community College came in at #12 for value in education this year. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Students borrow a median of $12,043 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $44,466. That is a strong return on a $12,043 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #13 for value in education this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Students borrow a median of $10,119 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $21,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Central Community College placed #14 among the best values for education. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Students borrow a median of $16,135 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $39,624 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,135 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Morris landed the #15 spot for education value this year. Located in the town of Morris, University Of Minnesota Morris is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,526, while out-of-state students pay about $16,710. Education graduates carry a median of $24,767 in student loans. Education graduates of University Of Minnesota Morris earn a median of $46,414 early in their careers. Set against $24,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Morris admits about 75% of applicants.
Moberly Area Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Moberly. In-state tuition and fees average $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $8,640. Students borrow a median of $12,507 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $44,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #17 spot for education value this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $15,995. Early-career education graduates make about $41,510. Set against $15,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Creston earned the #18 position for value in education this year. Located in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,064, with out-of-state students paying around $8,316. Typical student debt for education graduates is $15,881. Early-career education graduates make about $46,106. That is a strong return on a $15,881 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $41,902. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #20 among the best values for education. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $44,387. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
Ridgewater College landed the #21 spot for education value this year. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Typical student debt for education graduates is $15,556. Education graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $42,178 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
Highland Community College Highland landed the #22 spot for education value this year. Highland Community College Highland is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Highland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,495. Typical student debt for education graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Highland Community College Highland generally make around $22,909. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #23 among the best values for education. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Missouri College placed #24 among the best values for education. North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trenton. Students from in state pay about $5,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,820 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $16,685 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from North Central Missouri College generally make around $40,934. Set against $16,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oglala Lakota College came in at #25 for value in education this year. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kyle. In-state tuition and fees average $2,684. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $22,517.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education value ranking:
Narrow Education Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 249 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 108 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Education](/majors/education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
