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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

22 Ranked Colleges
261 Degrees Awarded
$12,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Geography is the 144th most popular major in the country with 5,476 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 331 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 261 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in geography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

More Ways to Rank Geography Schools

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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 27 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Geography at UMN Twin Cities

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 more about Geography at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 17 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read full report on Geography at Mizzou

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNI has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read full report on Geography at UNI

#5

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Park University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Park University is a fairly large school located in Parkville, Missouri that handed out 33 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Park University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Park University is $13,622 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Park University Geography Report

#6

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Macalester College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, Macalester has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester College is $10,158 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Macalester College Geography Report

#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Read full report on Geography at Saint Cloud State University

#11 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNL has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,216 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNL Geography Report

#9

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#16 in overall quality

Bemidji State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 3 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University also took the #16 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,632 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Bemidji State University Geography Report

#10

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#12 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

UND also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $11,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UND Geography Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geography at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#12

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 20 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $12,975 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, 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 88%.

Full University of Iowa Geography Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,990 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Full Northwest Missouri State University Geography Report

#17 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 11 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #17 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Geography Report

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gustavus Adolphus is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

Gustavus Adolphus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,150 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at Gustavus Adolphus

#16

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#10 in overall quality

South Dakota State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $15,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read more about Geography at South Dakota State

#17

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

Kansas State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. K -State is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $14,232 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geography at K -State

#18

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 5 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $12,065 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UMKC Geography Report

#22 in overall quality

Missouri Southern State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Joplin, Missouri, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri Southern also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $7,882 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Missouri Southern Geography Report

#20 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 20 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,527 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geography at Missouri State University - Springfield

#21

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $14,387 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography at KU

#22

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UST MN is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota is $27,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Geography at UST MN

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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 Couleur.

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