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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

77 Ranked Colleges
8,114 Degrees Awarded
$10,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 205,726 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 9,393 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,924 and $24,385 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,114 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 77 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 77 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. WUSTL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 348 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WUSTL is $5,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Washington University in St Louis

#2

Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 116 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Carleton also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton is $9,579 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Carleton College Social Sciences Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences 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 UMN Morris Social Sciences Report

#4

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 77 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #4 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 1,057 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,266 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Social Sciences Report

#18 in overall quality

Out of the 77 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 9 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,755 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology.

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 Social Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#6

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

St Olaf College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 182 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,459 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Olaf College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full St. Olaf Social Sciences Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences 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 180 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Social Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#8

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Truman State University is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $7,564 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences 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%. 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 more about Social Sciences at Truman State

#12 in overall quality

Iowa State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 209 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $10,054 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Social Sciences Report

#10

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Grinnell College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grinnell is located in Grinnell, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 129 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grinnell, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grinnell is $11,945 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Grinnell Social Sciences Report

#11

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 151 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 full report on Social Sciences at UNI

#16 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 316 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Social Sciences at Mizzou

#19 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 73 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $11,524 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences 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%.

Full North Dakota State University Social Sciences Report

#14

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #14, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. Cloud State University is a public institution located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 112 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read more about Social Sciences at St. Cloud State University

#15

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Macalester College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 135 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Macalester also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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 social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 more about Social Sciences at Macalester College

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNL is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 197 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,216 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UNL

#17

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#20 in overall quality

Park University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Parkville, Missouri, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Park University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,622 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Park University.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Park University

#18

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k 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 174 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Sciences at UMSL

#19

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences 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 13 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,632 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Sciences at Bemidji State University

#20

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,381 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Winona State

#21

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #21, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Dakota is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UND is $11,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences 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 Social Sciences Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 106 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha is $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UNOMAHA Social Sciences Report

With a ranking of #23, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 209 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $9,464 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at FHSU

#23

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#17 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 571 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 Social Sciences at Iowa

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 101 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Mankato Social Sciences Report

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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.

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