2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
58
Ranked Colleges
8,884
Degrees Awarded
$11,600
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 205,984 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,262 and had an average of $23,306 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 8,884 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,904 and $24,673 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 58 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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 social sciences program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 375 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $2,446 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Washington University in St Louis
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 1,180 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $8,609 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Social Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carleton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 86 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Carleton has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carleton College is $13,410 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Carleton
Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #4 spot on the list. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $2,230 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Morris Social Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 151 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth also took the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $8,697 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of Minnesota - Duluth
University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 209 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $8,324 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - St Louis Social Sciences Report
Iowa State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 192 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $11,427 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Iowa State
St Olaf College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 162 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Olaf, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,138 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St Olaf College.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at St Olaf College
With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 365 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,386 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of Missouri - Columbia
With a ranking of #10, Truman State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Truman State is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $8,898 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Truman State University
With a ranking of #11, Grinnell College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 119 students in 2020-2021.
Grinnell also took the #4 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grinnell is $13,671 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Grinnell College Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #12, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 113 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UND is $13,151 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of North Dakota
University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $13,175 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of Northern Iowa
University of Iowa ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 495 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $15,508 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad 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 Iowa Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #15, Macalester College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Macalester is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 131 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $10,543 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 impressive undergraduate 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Macalester College Social Sciences Report
Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Northwest is located in Maryville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $10,608 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Northwest
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 199 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UNL also took the #14 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $13,453 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $12,735 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Social Sciences at North Dakota State University
Bellevue University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 249 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,911 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bellevue University.
The undergrad 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 full report on Social Sciences at Bellevue University
Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Gustavus Adolphus is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 65 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,445 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Social Sciences at Gustavus Adolphus College
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 135 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,294 for plains states region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNOMAHA.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Nebraska at Omaha
With a ranking of #22, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 259 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,144 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. University of Kansas is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 312 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $16,288 for Plains States Region Social Sciences 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%. 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 KU
With a ranking of #24, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 125 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,825 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at St. Cloud State University
Park University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Park University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $14,285 for Plains States Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Park University
