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2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

20 Ranked Colleges
1,961 Degrees Awarded
$23,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 200,458 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,888 and had an average of $23,564 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 12,638 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,836 and $23,524 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,961 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality engineering 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 engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Engineering Schools

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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most 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 Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree engineering students.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering in the Plains States Region

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the 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 51 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University are $11,589.

Read more about Engineering at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 120 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNL Engineering Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 248 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree engineering students list, Iowa State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Engineering 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 Iowa State are $25,948.

Full Iowa State University Engineering Report

#4

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 35 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Engineering 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 South Dakota State are $16,743.

Read full report on Engineering at South Dakota State

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it awarded 59 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SD Mines are $19,250.

Full South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Engineering Report

#6

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#13 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Engineering 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 North Dakota are $18,326.

Read more about Engineering at University of North Dakota

#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 27 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Cloud State University are $12,904, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at St. Cloud State University

#8

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#17 in overall quality

Wichita State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 107 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WSU are $15,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full WSU Engineering Report

#9

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. UST MN is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UST MN also took the #6 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Thomas Minnesota are $24,814, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at University of St Thomas Minnesota

#10

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

K -State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at K -State

#11

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 253 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #4 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at UMN Twin Cities

#12

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 68 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Kansas Engineering Report

#13

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Saint Louis University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. SLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SLU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Engineering 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.

Read more about Engineering at SLU

#3 in overall quality

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 241 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Engineering Report

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 69 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at Iowa

#9 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 37 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia

#16 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. UMN Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 28 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #16 spot in our “Best Engineering 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 UMN Duluth are $28,606.

Read more about Engineering at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#18

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
#20 in overall quality

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. This medium-sized school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 23 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UCM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCM are $16,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Central Missouri

#19

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. UMKC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 82 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Engineering 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 UMKC are $26,699.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#20

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 295 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562.

Read full report on Engineering at WUSTL

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Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
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Engineering Mechanics
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Engineering Mechanics in the Plains States Region

Environmental Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Environmental Engineering in the Plains States Region

Mechanical Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region

Mining Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mining Engineering in the Plains States Region

Petroleum Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Petroleum Engineering in the Plains States Region

Construction Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Construction Engineering in the Plains States Region

Manufacturing Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Manufacturing Engineering in the Plains States Region

Geoscience Engineering
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Energy Systems Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Energy Systems Engineering in the Plains States Region

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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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