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2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

32 Ranked Colleges
3,607 Degrees Awarded
$9,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 $30-$48k” 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 $30-$48k”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

1
Garden City Community College crest
Garden City Community College
Garden City, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Garden City Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Garden City Community College is located in Garden City, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Garden City Community College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Garden City Community College is $4,632 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on General Studies at Garden City Community College

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Haskell Indian Nations University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Haskell Indian Nations University is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,987 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Haskell.

Full Haskell General Studies Report

3

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 10 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Western Iowa Tech Community College has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $6,388 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College General Studies Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. DMACC is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 125 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DMACC also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Des Moines Area Community College is $8,122 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Barton County Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Barton County 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 $8,830 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Barton County Community College.

Read full report on General Studies at Barton County Community College

6
Independence Community College crest
Independence Community College
Independence, Kansas

Independence Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Independence, Kansas, and it awarded 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. It costs about $5,049 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Independence Community College.

Full Independence Community College General Studies Report

7
Leech Lake Tribal College crest
Leech Lake Tribal College
Cass Lake, Minnesota

Leech Lake Tribal College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Leech Lake Tribal College is located in Cass Lake, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Leech Lake Tribal College also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Leech Lake Tribal College is $2,158 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

8

Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Central Community College also took the #11 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,776 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read full report on General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

9
Northeast crest
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska

Northeast Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Nebraska. It awarded 14 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeast, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast is $7,170 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Northeast Community College

10

Labette Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Parsons, Kansas, and it awarded 24 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Labette Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Labette Community College is $5,741 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at Labette Community College

11
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #11, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 99 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,151 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UND General Studies Report

12

Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

OTC also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for OTC is $6,851 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at Ozarks Technical Community College

13
Iowa Western Community College crest
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized school located in Council Bluffs, Iowa that handed out 53 ’s general studies 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. It costs about $8,933 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Full Iowa Western Community College General Studies Report

14

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 102 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,386 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 University of Missouri - Columbia

15
Crowder College crest
Crowder College
Neosho, Missouri

Crowder College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Neosho, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 283 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Crowder College is $4,335 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Crowder College General Studies Report

16
UMary crest
University of Mary
Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Mary is a small school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 20 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UMary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,600 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMary.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMary General Studies Report

17
WSU crest
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 82 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, WSU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $12,272 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at WSU

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 346 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $11,294 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at UNOMAHA

19
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri 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 $30-$48k ranking. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 132 students in 2020-2021.

Southeast Missouri State University also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

20
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 65 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $14,846 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State General Studies Report

21
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

With a ranking of #21, Minot State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MSU is a small public school situated in Minot, North Dakota. It awarded 21 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Minot State University is $9,060 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Studies at MSU

22
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Emporia State University is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 34 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

ESU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Emporia State University is $12,971 for Plains States Region General Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Studies at Emporia State University

23
Mayville State University crest
Mayville State University
Mayville, North Dakota

Mayville State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Mayville, North Dakota, and it awarded 29 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Mayville State University also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $11,357 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mayville State University.

Read full report on General Studies at Mayville State University

24

North Central Missouri College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. NCMC is a small public school situated in Trenton, Missouri. It awarded 5 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,063 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Central Missouri College.

Read more about General Studies at North Central Missouri College

25

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Nebraska at Kearney 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 $14,018 for plains states region general studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read more about General Studies at UNK

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