2026 Best Value Project Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Project Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/project-management/) 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 33 schools to find the best return on investment for project management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Project Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the project management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Project Management Schools
Leading the list is North Hennepin Community College, our #1 best value for project management in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,061. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $21,210. Project Management graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $47,361 early in their careers. Set against $21,210 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Inver Hills Community College one of the best values for project management. Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Students borrow a median of $20,160 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College generally make around $52,798. Set against $20,160 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in project management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,326 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,066 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $38,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #4 place for project management. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Project Management graduates carry a median of $21,469 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $76,029. Set against $21,469 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Park University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,116. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $18,586. Project Management graduates of Park University earn a median of $60,208 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minot State University landed the #6 spot for project management value this year. Minot State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Minot. Students from in state pay about $8,702 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $23,250. Early-career project management graduates make about $46,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minot State University admits about 65% of applicants.
Bemidji State University came in at #7 for value in project management this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $64,024. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Missouri Western State University landed the #8 spot for project management value this year. Set in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,545 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $25,497. Early-career project management graduates make about $41,107. That is a strong return on a $25,497 median debt.
Kansas State University came in at #9 for value in project management this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Project Management graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $66,631. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #10 for value in project management this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Students borrow a median of $22,555 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $55,013. That is a strong return on a $22,555 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #11 for value in project management this year. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,054. Project Management graduates carry a median of $23,625 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $43,374. That is a strong return on a $23,625 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #12 spot for project management value this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $25,576 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $51,571. That is a strong return on a $25,576 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Fontbonne University came in at #13 for value in project management this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,976. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the project management program here. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Fontbonne University generally make around $46,039. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Capella University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $33,750. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $84,188. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Project Management graduates carry a median of $22,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. That is a strong return on a $22,350 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary earned the #16 position for value in project management this year. 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. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $27,654. Early-career project management graduates make about $65,591. Set against $27,654 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University landed the #17 spot for project management value this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Project Management graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Project Management graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career project management graduates make about $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State University came in at #19 for value in project management this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $65,664 early in their careers. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $17,553. Project Management graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earned the #21 position for value in project management this year. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Students borrow a median of $29,482 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $72,267. Set against $29,482 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Saint Scholastica landed the #22 spot for project management value this year. The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,778. Project Management graduates carry a median of $25,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from The College Of Saint Scholastica generally make around $52,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The College Of Saint Scholastica admits about 93% of applicants.
Columbia College Missouri ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,276 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,703 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Columbia College Missouri earn a median of $53,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland University placed #24 among the best values for project management. Midland University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fremont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,050. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $27,536. Project Management graduates of Midland University earn a median of $92,254 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,536 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #25 for value in project management this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Project Management graduates carry a median of $21,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $48,296. Set against $21,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Project Management Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in project management:
Narrow Project Management Schools by State
More Project Management Rankings
View All Project Management Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
