2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) 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. College Factual has developed its “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
With 133,583 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general studies is the 5th most popular major in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,869 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,582 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in general studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The general studies 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 General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 100 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Mizzou also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Nebraska at Omaha. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UNOMAHA is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 318 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #3 spot on the list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 110 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UND has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Dakota.
The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fontbonne University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
Fontbonne University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Fontbonne University is $12,913 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Saint Mary. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. College of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Saint Mary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend College of Saint Mary is $10,944 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 172 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $9,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Southeast Missouri State University
Minot State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. MSU is a small school located in Minot, North Dakota that handed out 26 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, MSU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU is $8,923 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #8, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. ESU is located in Emporia, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, ESU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ESU is $11,624 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Wichita State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 89 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, WSU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $11,642 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Mayville State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mayville State University is a small public school situated in Mayville, North Dakota. It awarded 15 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Mayville State University also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $7,679 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mayville State University.
Read more about General Studies at Mayville State University
With a ranking of #11, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 16 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
SLU also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,051 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SLU.
The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
South Dakota State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. South Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 30 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, South Dakota State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $15,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Studies at South Dakota State University
University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UNK also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $13,078 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Nebraska at Kearney General Studies Report
University of South Dakota landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school awarded 45 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
USD also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $14,517 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of Mary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UMary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Mary is $12,953 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Grand View University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Grand View University also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Grand View University is $18,481 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #17, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 377 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Columbia College Missouri has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $29,149 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbia College Missouri.
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 9 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University - CCPS, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,351 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Drury University - CCPS.
Read full report on General Studies at Drury University - CCPS
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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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