2026 Best Value Business/Managerial Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Business/Managerial Economics](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-managerial-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong business/managerial economics education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for business/managerial economics students.
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2026 Best Value Business/Managerial Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in business/managerial economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Business/Managerial Economics Schools
Leading the list is Wichita State University, our #1 best value for business/managerial economics in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Business/managerial Economics graduates carry a median of $23,448 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values for business/managerial economics. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business/managerial economics graduates is $23,573. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $45,123. Set against $23,573 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Dakota earned it the #3 place for business/managerial economics. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business/managerial economics graduates is $25,110. Early-career business/managerial economics graduates make about $64,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the best values for business/managerial economics. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the business/managerial economics program here. Soon after graduation, business/managerial economics degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $106,701. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the best values for business/managerial economics. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. Business/managerial Economics graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Business/managerial Economics graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $49,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.