2026 Best Value Office Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Office Administration](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/office-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong office administration education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for office administration students.
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2026 Best Value Office Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the office administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Office Administration Schools
St Charles Community College earned the #1 spot for value among office administration schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for office administration graduates is $12,606. Office Administration graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in office administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Early-career office administration graduates make about $40,568. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
South Central College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value office administration schools. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Students borrow a median of $13,139 to complete the office administration program here. Early-career office administration graduates make about $46,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Inver Hills Community College one of the best values for office administration. Set in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $20,160 in student loans. Soon after graduation, office administration degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College generally make around $52,798. Set against $20,160 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dakota County Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in office administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,649 to complete the office administration program here. Early-career office administration graduates make about $45,143. That is a strong return on a $18,649 median debt.
Iowa Lakes Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value office administration schools. Set in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,392, with out-of-state students paying around $7,872. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans. Soon after graduation, office administration degree recipients from Iowa Lakes Community College generally make around $46,937. Set against $20,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in office administration this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Students borrow a median of $13,946 to complete the office administration program here. Office Administration graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,898 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value office administration schools. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $6,389 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,640 to complete the office administration program here. Early-career office administration graduates make about $47,439. That is a strong return on a $14,640 median debt.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for office administration. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,289. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $18,550 in student loans. Office Administration graduates of Northland Community And Technical College earn a median of $46,528 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn State Technical College placed #10 among the best values for office administration. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,160 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, office administration degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $30,368. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical placed #11 among the best values for office administration. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,432. Students borrow a median of $22,522 to complete the office administration program here. Soon after graduation, office administration degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Avila University earned the #12 position for value in office administration this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,200. Typical student debt for office administration graduates is $29,750. Early-career office administration graduates make about $51,234. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Mary came in at #13 for value in office administration this year. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,356. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $27,654 in student loans. Early-career office administration graduates make about $65,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Mount Mercy University came in at #14 for value in office administration this year. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $40,878 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the office administration program here. Early-career office administration graduates make about $50,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #15 among the best values for office administration. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. Office Administration graduates carry a median of $21,895 in student loans. Early-career office administration graduates make about $44,857. Set against $21,895 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Dordt College came in at #16 for value in office administration this year. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Students borrow a median of $21,812 to complete the office administration program here. Soon after graduation, office administration degree recipients from Dordt College generally make around $54,926. Set against $21,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
