by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 145 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones have the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $0-$30k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Washington University in St Louis to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for bachelor’s degrees in the Plains States Region in this year’s ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Washington University in St Louis has the honor of being ranked #1 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,263.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list means University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a great place for students working on their degree. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Twin Cities a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,720.
Read full value report on University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
A rank of #3 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list means Iowa State University is a great place for students working on their degree. Iowa State University is a large public school located in Ames, Iowa.
Not only is Iowa State University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,148.
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list means Missouri University of Science and Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Rolla, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Missouri University of Science and Technology a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Missouri for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,071.
Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Value Report
Out of the 145 bachelor’s degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #5 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Minnesota - Duluth is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,283.
With a ranking of #6, University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a small public school located in Morris, Minnesota.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Morris a great value, but it is also ranked #28 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,553.
University of Minnesota - Crookston came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Crookston is located in Crookston, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
University of Minnesota - Crookston has the honor of being ranked #21 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,174.
Read full value report on University of Minnesota - Crookston
St Olaf College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Northfield, Minnesota.
St Olaf College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,478.
Truman State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Truman State is located in Kirksville, Missouri and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Truman State University is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Missouri. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,650.
University of Northern Iowa came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is University of Northern Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,720.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Nebraska - Lincoln a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Nebraska for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,172.
University of Iowa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Iowa is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,772.
University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Missouri - St Louis is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Missouri. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,692.
University of North Dakota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. UND is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Not only is University of North Dakota a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in North Dakota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,298.
Grinnell College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Grinnell is located in Grinnell, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Grinnell College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,470.
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. This large public school is located in Columbia, Missouri.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Missouri - Columbia is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,482.
Macalester College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Macalester College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Macalester College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,680.
With a ranking of #18, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri.
University of Missouri - Kansas City has the honor of being ranked #6 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,460.
Learn More About Value at University of Missouri - Kansas City
Bismarck State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. BSC is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Bismarck State College has the honor of being ranked #7 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,825.
University of Kansas ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. This large public school is located in Lawrence, Kansas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Kansas is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Kansas. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,970.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is North Dakota State University - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in North Dakota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,056.
Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Value Report
Kansas State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Kansas State University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Kansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,359.
Carleton College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Carleton is located in Northfield, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Carleton College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $14,936.
University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the school is a fairly large public institution.
University of Nebraska at Omaha has the honor of being ranked #4 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,037.
With a ranking of #25, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school located in Mankato, Minnesota.
Not only is Minnesota State University - Mankato a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,807.
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These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Minot State University | Minot, ND | Value Report |
| 27 | Valley City State University | Valley City, ND | Value Report |
| 28 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN | Value Report |
| 29 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | Value Report |
| 30 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.