by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 150 schools across the Plains States Region to determine which have the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
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 2024 rankings named Capella University the best value (no aid) school in the Plains States Region for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Not only is Capella University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,148 a year.
Out of the 150 bachelor’s degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue University landed the #2 spot on the list. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Bellevue, Nebraska.
Bellevue University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,993 a year for undergraduates.
The quality degree programs at Park University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Parkville, Missouri.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Park University is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,937 a year.
Out of the 150 bachelor’s degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Brookings, South Dakota.
South Dakota State University has the honor of being ranked #1 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,863 a year for undergraduates.
Out of the 150 bachelor’s degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is North Dakota State University - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in North Dakota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,954 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Valley City State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Valley City State University is a small public school located in Valley City, North Dakota.
Valley City State University has the honor of being ranked #4 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,888 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #7, Minot State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. MSU is a public institution located in Minot, North Dakota.
Minot State University has the honor of being ranked #5 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,055 a year for undergraduates.
Dakota State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Dakota State University is a small public school located in Madison, South Dakota.
Not only is Dakota State University a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,883 a year.
University of North Dakota landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
University of North Dakota has the honor of being ranked #2 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,959 a year for undergraduates.
Wayne State College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Wayne, Nebraska, the school is a small public institution.
Wayne State College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,148 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #11, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. University of South Dakota is a medium-sized public school located in Vermillion, South Dakota.
University of South Dakota has the honor of being ranked #2 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,542 a year.
With a ranking of #12, Walden University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Walden University is a large private for-profit school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Walden University has the honor of being ranked #18 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,298 a year.
Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Metropolitan State University is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,038 a year.
Columbia College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Columbia College Missouri is located in Columbia, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Columbia College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Missouri for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,136 a year for undergraduates.
University of Northern Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
University of Northern Iowa has the honor of being ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $28,913 a year for undergraduates.
Bismarck State College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. 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. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,387 a year.
Chadron State College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Chadron State College is a small public school situated in Chadron, Nebraska.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Chadron State College is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Nebraska. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,740 a year.
Iowa State University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Iowa State University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost without aid for the school is $34,534 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #19, University of Minnesota - Crookston did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. UMN Crookston is located in Crookston, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Minnesota - Crookston is ranked #21 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,976 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at University of Minnesota - Crookston
With a ranking of #20, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bemidji State University is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,966 a year.
Dickinson State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Dickinson, North Dakota, the school is a small public institution.
Dickinson State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in North Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,442 a year for undergraduates.
Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Missouri State University - Springfield is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Missouri. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $25,934 a year.
Read full value report on Missouri State University - Springfield
University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #23 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Duluth, Minnesota.
University of Minnesota - Duluth has the honor of being ranked #8 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $27,944 a year for undergraduates.
Winona State University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school located in Winona, Minnesota.
Not only is Winona State University a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Minnesota for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,954 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #25, Northern State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region list. NSU is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Northern State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in South Dakota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,097 a year.
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These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Plains States Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Mary | Bismarck, ND | Value Report |
| 27 | Truman State University | Kirksville, MO | Value Report |
| 28 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN | Value Report |
| 29 | Haskell Indian Nations University | Lawrence, KS | Value Report |
| 30 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall, MN | Value Report |
| 31 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.