2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
With 205,726 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, social sciences is the 5th most popular major in the United States. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 699 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 30 colleges that offer a degree in social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. WUSTL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 34 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
WUSTL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’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 #2 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 42 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 48 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellevue University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and it awarded 96 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Bellevue University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bellevue University are $11,385.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 4 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 24 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UMSL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - St Louis are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Missouri - St Louis
University of Northern Iowa ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of Northern Iowa
Lindenwood University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 33 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lindenwood University are $9,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #9, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. North Dakota State University is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
North Dakota State University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Sciences at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwest are $6,673.
With a ranking of #11, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 16 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Minnesota State Mankato
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNOMAHA are $16,374.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UNL has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNL are $19,513, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 3 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Cloud State University are $12,904, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of North Dakota landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’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 13 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UND also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Iowa landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Iowa also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Capella University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 33 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Capella University also took the #25 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Wichita State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 11 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112.
University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
UMKC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699.
Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Missouri State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042.
University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Missouri are $16,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.
K -State also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115.
South Dakota State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
South Dakota State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State are $16,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Saint Louis University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saint Louis University is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 44 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
SLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Kansas came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
KU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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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 AndrГ© KГјnzelmann.
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