It'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 in the Plains States Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
After analyzing 147 schools in the Plains States Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. A bachelor's degree holder from a school in the Plains States Region makes an average starting salary of $41,046, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $43,575.
Starting Salary ( 36165 to 48730 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in the Plains States Region take out an average of $29,021.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Washington University in St Louis tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in the Plains States Region for overall quality. Washington University in St Louis is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 2,441 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from WUSTL is $55,707 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $17,265 in student loans.
Out of the 147 bachelor’s degree schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 9,414 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UMN Twin Cities go into careers with an average salary of $43,425 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,102 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $258 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #3 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in the Plains States Region list means Iowa State University is a great place for students working on their degree. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,998 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,537 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,637. This translates to an average monthly payment of $257 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the large public school handed out 5,998 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa is $39,274 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,043 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $373 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capella University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large private for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 5,286 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Capella University make an average of $55,019 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $38,888 in student loans.
With a ranking of #6, Carleton College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Carleton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 517 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Carleton is $37,874 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,046 after getting their degree.
Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Rolla, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,427 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Missouri University of Science and Technology make an average of $60,912 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,108 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $336 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Creighton University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Creighton is located in Omaha, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,429 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Creighton is $40,993 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,684 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $518 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,114 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Mizzou is $40,947 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,575. Average monthly loan payments are around $398 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Grinnell College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 496 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,615 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $17,989 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #11, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the large public school awarded 4,600 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,398 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,105. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $365.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,727 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UNL make an average of $40,780 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,249 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $298.
University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,540 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UST MN is $47,173 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,773. This translates to an average monthly payment of $307 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of Northern Iowa landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,555 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UNI make an average of $39,103 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,518. This translates to an average monthly payment of $172 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #15, Drake University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Drake University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 838 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Drake make an average of $42,184 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,440. This translates to an average monthly payment of $432 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
St Olaf College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 942 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf make an average of $34,897 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,567 after getting their degree.
Bellevue University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Bellevue, Nebraska that handed out 2,348 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Bellevue University go into careers with an average salary of $49,776 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,067.
University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. UND is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,097 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UND go into careers with an average salary of $45,857 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,979 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $591 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Macalester College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 585 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Macalester make an average of $37,812 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $20,830 in student loans.
Kansas State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. K -State is a fairly large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 3,967 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,608 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,986 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $273 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 2,568 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University make an average of $44,973 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,051 in student loans.
South Dakota State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,977 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from South Dakota State make an average of $42,852 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,875 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $173 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Saint Louis University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,833 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SLU go into careers with an average salary of $42,448 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,931 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $511.
Park University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Parkville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,708 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Park University make an average of $45,570 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,330 after getting their degree.
University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,288 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UMN Duluth is $39,650 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,524. Average monthly loan payments are around $202 for a 10-year repayment plan.
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%.
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