2024 Best Schools for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
264
Colleges
$7,465
Avg Net Price (With Aid)*
74%
Discount Rate*
When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Plains States Region Schools For The Money For Those Making $0-$30k ranking - to help you make that decision. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Finding Your Best College Match
Our analysis looked at 264 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones have the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Our Methodology
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student.
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 college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
More Rankings to View
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. You may also want to
narrow this list by location to find the best value schools nearest you. Also, you may want to check out our other
college rankings.
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.
Best Value Schools (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Washington University in St Louis tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school in the Plains States Region for overall quality. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Washington University in St Louis is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,263.
Learn More About Value at Washington University in St Louis
A rank of #2 on our Best 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.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities has the honor of being ranked #1 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 $6,720.
Learn More About Value at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa.
Not only is Iowa State University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,148.
Read full value report on Iowa State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Rolla, Missouri.
Not only is Missouri University of Science and Technology a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Missouri for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,071.
Learn More About Value at Missouri University of Science and Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Metropolitan Community College is a fairly large public school located in Omaha, Nebraska.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Metropolitan Community College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Nebraska. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,820.
Full Metropolitan Community College Value Report
St Charles Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized public school is located in Cottleville, Missouri.
St Charles Community College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Missouri 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 $3,111.
Full St Charles Community College Value Report
University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Duluth a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,283.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Value Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Morris a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,553.
Full University of Minnesota - Morris Value Report
University of Minnesota - Crookston ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. UMN Crookston is a small public school situated in Crookston, Minnesota.
Not only is University of Minnesota - Crookston a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,174.
Full University of Minnesota - Crookston Value Report
Garden City Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. Garden City Community College is located in Garden City, Kansas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Garden City Community College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Kansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,161.
Full Garden City Community College Value Report
Hennepin Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Hennepin Technical College is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Hennepin Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,641.
Full Hennepin Technical College Value Report
St Olaf College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. St. Olaf is located in Northfield, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
St Olaf College has the honor of being ranked #6 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.
Full St Olaf College Value Report
Truman State University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Kirksville, Missouri.
Not only is Truman State University a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Missouri for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,650.
Read full value report on Truman State University
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Kansas City, Missouri.
Not only is Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Missouri for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,370.
Read full value report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
With a ranking of #15, Ranken Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Not only is Ranken Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Missouri for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,506.
Full Ranken Technical College Value Report
With a ranking of #16, Bismarck State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. BSC is a public institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Not only is Bismarck State College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in North Dakota for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,825.
Full Bismarck State College Value Report
University of Northern Iowa landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
University of Northern Iowa has the honor of being ranked #4 in Iowa 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 $10,720.
Full University of Northern Iowa Value Report
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large public school located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Not only is University of Nebraska - Lincoln a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Nebraska for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,172.
Read full value report on University of Nebraska - Lincoln
St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is St Cloud Technical and Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,663.
Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Value Report
University of Minnesota - Rochester did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. UMN Rochester is a public institution located in Rochester, Minnesota.
The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,757.
Learn More About Value at University of Minnesota - Rochester
With a ranking of #21, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Missouri - St Louis is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,692.
Read full value report on University of Missouri - St Louis
Dakota County Technical College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. DCTC is located in Rosemount, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Dakota County Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,074.
Read full value report on Dakota County Technical College
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. DMACC is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa.
Not only is Des Moines Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,582.
Read full value report on Des Moines Area Community College
With a ranking of #24, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region list. This large public school is located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Not only is University of Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,772.
Read full value report on University of Iowa
Century College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region ranking. White Bear Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Century College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Minnesota for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,416.
Full Century College Value Report
