2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/physiology-and-pathology-sciences/biomechanics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
University Of Nebraska At Omaha tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $48,906. Set against $21,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mary earned it the #2 place for value. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
