2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general social sciences students.
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2026 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #1 spot for value among general social sciences schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $25,943. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $53,079. Set against $25,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #2 makes Southeast Missouri State University one of the best values for general social sciences. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $34,390. General Social Sciences graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $37,193 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Butler Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,541 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $16,670. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $39,404. Set against $16,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #4. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $40,793. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #5. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the general social sciences program here. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota placed #6 among the best values for general social sciences. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,431 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $34,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,431 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Metropolitan State University landed the #7 spot for general social sciences value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $41,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Upper Iowa University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $25,805. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $56,221. Set against $25,805 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Bellevue University earned the #9 position for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,873. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $34,734 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $41,475. Set against $34,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
