2026 Best Value Zoology Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Zoology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong zoology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value zoology schools.
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2026 Best Value Zoology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in zoology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Zoology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Nebraska Lincoln, our #1 best value for zoology in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for zoology graduates is $22,386. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #2 place for zoology. 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 $24,853 to complete the zoology program here. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $26,843. That is a strong return on a $24,853 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in zoology will find it at University Of North Dakota, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for zoology graduates is $25,110. Zoology graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $24,721 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Friends University earned it the #4 place for zoology. Set in the city of Wichita, Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,192. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the zoology program here. Early-career zoology graduates make about $24,692. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.