2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
32
Ranked Colleges
3,607
Degrees Awarded
$8,800
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 129,869 general studies students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country.
Across the Plains States region, there were 3,607 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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 studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank General Studies Schools
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value 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 Garden City Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Garden City Community College is a small school located in Garden City, Kansas that handed out 45 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Garden City Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Garden City Community College is $3,934 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Garden City Community College General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Des Moines Area Community College is a large school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 125 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Des Moines Area Community College is $8,177 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at DMACC
Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Haskell Indian Nations University landed the #3 spot on the list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $2,739 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Haskell.
Read full report on General Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University
Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #4 spot on the list. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 99 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UND is $12,394 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
Full University of North Dakota General Studies Report
Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Independence Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Independence Community College is a small school located in Independence, Kansas that handed out 70 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Independence Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Independence Community College is $6,146 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at Independence Community College
Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Fort Dodge, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
Iowa Central Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $8,872 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Iowa Central Community College
With a ranking of #7, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.
Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,071 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.
Read more about General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College
With a ranking of #8, Barton County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Barton Community College is a small school located in Great Bend, Kansas that handed out 68 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Barton Community College also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $7,303 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Barton County Community College.
Full Barton County Community College General Studies Report
Labette Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Parsons, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
Labette Community College also took the #24 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $5,821 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Labette Community College.
Read more about General Studies at Labette Community College
With a ranking of #10, Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 28 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
OTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ozarks Technical Community College is $6,220 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at Ozarks Technical Community College
Iowa Western Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa Western Community College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Western Community College is $9,587 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Studies at Iowa Western Community College
Wichita State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 82 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
WSU also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $11,687 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at WSU
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,005 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 General Studies at Mizzou
Northeast Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Northeast is located in Norfolk, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northeast has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Community College is $6,320 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Northeast Community College General Studies Report
University of Mary did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. UMary is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
UMary also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMary is $16,706 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Full University of Mary General Studies Report
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 346 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
UNOMAHA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $10,578 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 full report on General Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha
With a ranking of #17, Crowder College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Crowder College is a small public school situated in Neosho, Missouri. It awarded 283 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Crowder College is $4,045 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Crowder College
With a ranking of #18, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, South Dakota State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $14,171 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Read full report on General Studies at South Dakota State
Mayville State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Mayville, North Dakota, and it awarded 29 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mayville State University has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mayville State University is $9,250 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Studies at Mayville State University
With a ranking of #20, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 132 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Southeast Missouri State University also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,359 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.
Full Southeast Missouri State University General Studies Report
Leech Lake Tribal College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Cass Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 12 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Leech Lake Tribal College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Leech Lake Tribal College is $6,145 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Leech Lake Tribal College General Studies Report
With a ranking of #22, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Emporia, Kansas, this medium-sized public school awarded 34 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.
ESU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,465 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ESU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 General Studies at ESU
University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNK is a medium-sized school located in Kearney, Nebraska that handed out 58 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UNK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $14,087 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 full report on General Studies at UNK
With a ranking of #24, North Central Missouri College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Central Missouri College is a small school located in Trenton, Missouri that handed out 5 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,924 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Central Missouri College.
Read full report on General Studies at NCMC
Mineral Area College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Park Hills, Missouri, and it awarded 10 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend MAC is $7,965 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Mineral Area College General Studies Report
