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

22 Ranked Colleges
261 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 5,476 people earned their degree in geography, making the major the 144th most popular in the United States.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in geography. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geography programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Geography Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k.

Top 22 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Geography 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 - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $12,556 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Geography Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,145 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read more about Geography at Mizzou

#3

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Park University landed the #3 spot on the list. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

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. It costs about $17,144 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Park University.

Full Park University Geography Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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. It costs about $12,438 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#5

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macalester College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Macalester is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 22 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k 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 is $20,102 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The 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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Geography at Macalester

#6

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 5 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,729 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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 full report on Geography at UNI

#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,373 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k 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 $48-$75k ranking. UNL is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 13 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k 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 $16,197 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNL.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Geography Report

#21 in overall quality

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,988 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Read more about Geography at Northwest Missouri State University

#10

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#12 in overall quality

University of North Dakota came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 5 bachelors’s geography degrees 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 $15,109 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNOMAHA is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 7 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $13,833 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Geography at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#12

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#16 in overall quality

Bemidji State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Read full report on Geography at Bemidji State University

#17 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 11 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $14,451 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Read more about Geography at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#14

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

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. It costs about $18,272 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Iowa.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 Geography at University of Iowa

#15

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,548 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k 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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus Geography Report

#16

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

K -State also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $16,889 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full K -State Geography Report

#17

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 5 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $14,571 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Read more about Geography at UMKC

#18

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#10 in overall quality

South Dakota State University 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 $48-$75k ranking. South Dakota State University 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.

South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $19,326 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Full South Dakota State University Geography Report

#22 in overall quality

Missouri Southern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Joplin, Missouri, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri Southern, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,124 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Missouri Southern State University.

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 20 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,204 for plains states region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Missouri State Geography Report

#21

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s 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 $17,132 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Read full report on Geography at KU

#22

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

UST MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UST MN is $26,172 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.

Read full report on Geography at University of St Thomas Minnesota

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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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