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

109 Ranked Colleges
31,199 Degrees Awarded
$7,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 556,813 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 31,199 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,497 and $16,369 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 109 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts 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 liberal arts general studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The liberal arts 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 Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

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

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 568 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $3,257 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.

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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at MCC

2
SCC crest
St Charles Community College
Cottleville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Charles Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SCC is a public institution located in Cottleville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 531 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,536 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SCC.

Full St Charles Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 2,357 students in 2020-2021.

MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $6,795 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MCC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at MCC

4
Garden City Community College crest
Garden City Community College
Garden City, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Garden City Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Garden City, Kansas, this small public school awarded 227 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Garden City Community College is $4,632 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Garden City Community College

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend State Fair Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. State Fair Community College is located in Sedalia, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 429 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for State Fair Community College is $6,195 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full State Fair Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

6
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Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota

With a ranking of #6, Bismarck State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 352 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, BSC has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bismarck State College is $6,399 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Bismarck State College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

7
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Dakota College at Bottineau
Bottineau, North Dakota

With a ranking of #7, Dakota College at Bottineau did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MSU-Bottineau is a public institution located in Bottineau, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU-Bottineau not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,077 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MSU-Bottineau.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at MSU-Bottineau

8

Haskell Indian Nations University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Haskell is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Haskell is $2,987 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Haskell

9

Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 124 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,388 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College

10

With a ranking of #10, Marshalltown Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Marshalltown, Iowa, this small public school handed out 144 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $6,207 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Marshalltown Community College

11

Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,170 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,122 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend DMACC.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at DMACC

12

With a ranking of #12, Barton County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Great Bend, Kansas, and it awarded 382 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,830 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Barton County Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Barton Community College

13
Independence Community College crest
Independence Community College
Independence, Kansas

Independence Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Independence, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 83 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,049 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Independence Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Independence Community College

14
Leech Lake Tribal College crest
Leech Lake Tribal College
Cass Lake, Minnesota

Leech Lake Tribal College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Cass Lake, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Leech Lake Tribal College is $2,158 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Leech Lake Tribal College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

15
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $15,508 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa

16

Iowa Central Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 426 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,776 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Central Community College

17

Fort Hays State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 356 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, FHSU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $10,847 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at FHSU

18
Northeast crest
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska

Northeast Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Northeast is located in Norfolk, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Northeast Community College is $7,170 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 Liberal Arts General Studies Report

19

Labette Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Labette Community College is a public institution located in Parsons, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 84 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $5,741 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Labette Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Labette Community College

20
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University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 102 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,324 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMSL.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Liberal Arts General Studies Report

21
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University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 99 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, UND has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $13,151 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 University of North Dakota Liberal Arts General Studies Report

22
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Century College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. White Bear Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 426 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,628 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Century College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Century College

23
Coffeyville Community College crest
Coffeyville Community College
Coffeyville, Kansas

With a ranking of #23, Coffeyville Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Coffeyville Community College is located in Coffeyville, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 178 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Coffeyville Community College is $4,943 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Coffeyville Community College

24

St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 326 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College is $7,618 for Plains States Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

25
Saint Louis Community College crest
Saint Louis Community College
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 1,372 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,142 for plains states region liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Louis Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Louis Community College

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