2026 Best Value Range Science & Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Range Science & Management](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/range-science-and-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value range science & management schools.
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2026 Best Value Range Science & Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in range science & management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Range Science & Management Schools
Chadron State College earned the #1 spot for value among range science & management schools in the The Plains States Region. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,294. Typical student debt for range science & management graduates is $15,989. Soon after graduation, range science & management degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $36,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Dakota State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for range science & management. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the range science & management program here. Range Science & Management graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,048 early in their careers. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in range science & management will find it at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the range science & management program here. Early-career range science & management graduates make about $47,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #4 place for range science & management. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $21,905 to complete the range science & management program here. Range Science & Management graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #5 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values for range science & management. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Range Science & Management graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career range science & management graduates make about $51,260. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
