by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a grad degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Plains States Region Colleges for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
After analyzing 121 grad schools in the Plains States Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best master's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best grad schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. Recent students who earned a master's degree in the Plains States Region entered the job market making an average of $55,401 while those in the top 25 schools on our list made an average of $64,744.
Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their master's so we factor that into our rankings as well. 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.
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 Master'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.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Washington University in St Louis to be the best grad school for master’s degrees in the Plains States Region in this year’s ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,343 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $64,992 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large public school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 2,946 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UMN Twin Cities make an average of $64,362 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St Thomas Minnesota. The school came in at #3 in the Plains States Region on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 980 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UST MN is $68,893 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Iowa is a large public school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 1,494 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,043 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Maryville University of Saint Louis. The school came in at #5 in the Plains States Region on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 1,553 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Maryville U make an average of $65,447 a year.
Iowa State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Ames, Iowa, the large public school awarded 957 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,441 during the early years of their career.
Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 413 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Missouri University of Science and Technology make an average of $97,332 a year.
With a ranking of #8, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,423 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Mizzou is $52,652 during the early years of their career.
Creighton University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Creighton University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 421 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,909 during the early years of their career.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 919 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UNL go into careers with an average salary of $53,259 during the early years of their career.
Webster University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2,578 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $64,279 during the early years of their career.
University of Kansas ranked #12 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the large public school awarded 1,560 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from KU go into careers with an average salary of $61,100 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Capella University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large private for-profit school handed out 6,772 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Capella University make an average of $55,786 a year.
Kansas State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. K -State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,146 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from K -State make an average of $55,226 a year.
University of North Dakota landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 795 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,798 during the early years of their career.
Saint Louis University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. SLU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 868 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,518 during the early years of their career.
Drake University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 404 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,781 during the early years of their career.
Hamline University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hamline University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 394 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,159 during the early years of their career.
Northwestern College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Orange City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from NWC make an average of $52,856 a year.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 441 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from North Dakota State University go into careers with an average salary of $51,581 during the early years of their career.
Valley City State University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Valley City, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 36 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Valley City State University make an average of $50,075 a year.
With a ranking of #22, Mount Marty University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Yankton, South Dakota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 38 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $110,518 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, University of Mary did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 389 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $68,785 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #24, Maharishi International University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Fairfield, Iowa, and it awarded 467 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from MIU go into careers with an average salary of $109,488 during the early years of their career.
Augustana University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 121 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Augustana Sioux Falls make an average of $51,320 per year during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.