2023 Best Value Colleges for Geography (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
19
Ranked Colleges
288
Degrees Awarded
$13,800
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 4,954 people earned their degree in geography, making the major the 159th most popular in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 288 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geography programs and cost less that 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 geography program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Geography Schools
The geography 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 Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Geography (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 49 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,609 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geography at UMN Twin Cities
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #2 spot on the list. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
Mizzou also took the #3 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,386 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Mizzou Geography Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 4 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwest also took the #11 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $10,608 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Northwest Geography Report
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 12 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #6 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,175 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNI.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Geography at UNI
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of North Dakota is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, UND has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,151 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of North Dakota Geography Report
University of Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 12 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also made our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $15,508 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Iowa.
The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geography at University of Iowa
Park University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Park University, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,285 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Park University.
Read more about Geography at Park University
With a ranking of #8, Macalester College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Macalester is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 15 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Macalester also took the #5 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester College is $10,543 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Geography at Macalester
With a ranking of #9, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gustavus Adolphus is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, Gustavus Adolphus has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,445 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad 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 Gustavus Adolphus College Geography Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $12,263 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Read more about Geography at Minnesota State Mankato
Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,825 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Saint Cloud State University Geography Report
University of Kansas ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 11 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
KU also made our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $16,288 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 full report on Geography at University of Kansas
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 7 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL also took the #15 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $13,453 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography at UNL
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 4 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,294 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography at University of Nebraska at Omaha
South Dakota State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $14,846 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read full report on Geography at South Dakota State University
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,751 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography at UMKC
With a ranking of #17, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geography degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, K -State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $14,653 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, 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 87%.
Read more about Geography at K -State
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Missouri State also made our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $13,144 for plains states region geography students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Missouri State Geography Report
With a ranking of #19, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UST MN is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 7 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UST MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geography Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UST MN is $27,782 for Plains States Region Geography students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, 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 87%.
Read full report on Geography at University of St Thomas Minnesota
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
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
- *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.
