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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

62 Ranked Colleges
2,109 Degrees Awarded
$45,270 Avg Salary
Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,353 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,270 and $21,774 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,109 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 62 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 116 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $11,832 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 WUSTL Economics Report

Out of the 62 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small school located in Morris, Minnesota that handed out 15 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $7,558 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at UMN Morris

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 376 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,556 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 93%.

Read more about Economics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 107 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,577 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St. Olaf.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Economics at St Olaf College

#5

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 45 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Carleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carleton is $16,716 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Carleton Economics Report

With a ranking of #6, Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Rolla, Missouri, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, Missouri University of Science and Technology has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri University of Science and Technology is $13,058 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Economics at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#7

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

With a ranking of #7, Grinnell College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Grinnell, Iowa, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Grinnell also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Grinnell College is $12,486 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Grinnell College Economics Report

#8

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $20,102 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

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. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Macalester Economics Report

With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 81 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $13,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national 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.

Read more about Economics at University of Missouri - Columbia

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 47 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $14,161 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Economics at Iowa State University

#11

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, this small public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Truman State University is $12,031 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 full report on Economics at Truman State University

#12

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #17 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,729 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNI.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Economics at University of Northern Iowa

#13

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Missouri - St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $7,894 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Economics at UMSL

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UMN Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 27 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $12,438 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The 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 Economics at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#22 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $16,197 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 UNL Economics Report

With a ranking of #16, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 25 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,451 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Economics Report

Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Hays, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 124 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Fort Hays State University is $12,549 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Fort Hays State University Economics Report

#18

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

With a ranking of #18, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $14,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Bemidji State University Economics Report

With a ranking of #19, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 19 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,686 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

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

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Economics Report

#20

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #20, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 8 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,373 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read full report on Economics at Saint Cloud State University

#21

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

With a ranking of #21, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 194 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $18,272 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Iowa Economics Report

#22

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

With a ranking of #22, Saint Johns University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. SJU is located in Collegeville, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

SJU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Johns University is $19,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Saint Johns University Economics Report

#23

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, College of Saint Benedict did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

CSB also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend CSB is $20,978 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full College of Saint Benedict Economics Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $13,833 for plains states region bachelor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Economics at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#25

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 12 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $16,340 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Economics students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Lindenwood University

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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