2026 Best Value Entrepreneurship Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Entrepreneurship](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/entrepreneurial-studies/entrepreneurship/) 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 79 schools to find the best return on investment for entrepreneurship students.
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2026 Best Value Entrepreneurship Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in entrepreneurship, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Entrepreneurship Schools
Western Iowa Tech Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value entrepreneurship schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for entrepreneurship graduates is $16,642. Soon after graduation, entrepreneurship degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. That is a strong return on a $16,642 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Dakota County Technical College one of the best values for entrepreneurship. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans. Early-career entrepreneurship graduates make about $50,429. Set against $13,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value entrepreneurship schools. Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Mitchell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,524. Typical student debt for entrepreneurship graduates is $12,730. Entrepreneurship graduates of Mitchell Technical Institute earn a median of $47,686 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value entrepreneurship schools. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Typical student debt for entrepreneurship graduates is $24,036. Soon after graduation, entrepreneurship degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $43,164. Set against $24,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dickinson State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value entrepreneurship schools. Located in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $9,118 in tuition and fees. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $27,266 in student loans. Entrepreneurship graduates of Dickinson State University earn a median of $51,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 37%.
University Of Kansas earned the #6 position for value in entrepreneurship this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for entrepreneurship graduates is $23,608. Soon after graduation, entrepreneurship degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for entrepreneurship. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the entrepreneurship program here. Entrepreneurship graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $54,076 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Kansas State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value entrepreneurship schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $21,287 in student loans. Soon after graduation, entrepreneurship degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $39,646. Set against $21,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #9 for value in entrepreneurship this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for entrepreneurship graduates is $21,750. Early-career entrepreneurship graduates make about $39,840. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #10 among the best values for entrepreneurship. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Entrepreneurship graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $46,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #11 among the best values for entrepreneurship. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans. Entrepreneurship graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $46,572 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,624 median debt. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #12 position for value in entrepreneurship this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for entrepreneurship graduates is $25,260. Early-career entrepreneurship graduates make about $53,088. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota landed the #13 spot for entrepreneurship value this year. 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 entrepreneurship graduates is $26,000. Entrepreneurship graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $40,142 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Dakota Wesleyan University came in at #14 for value in entrepreneurship this year. Located in the town of Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,790. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, entrepreneurship degree recipients from Dakota Wesleyan University generally make around $71,856. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Iowa earned the #15 position for value in entrepreneurship this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the entrepreneurship program here. Soon after graduation, entrepreneurship degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $46,878. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Washington University In St Louis placed #16 among the best values for entrepreneurship. 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. Entrepreneurship graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Early-career entrepreneurship graduates make about $68,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value entrepreneurship schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the entrepreneurship program here. Early-career entrepreneurship graduates make about $48,600. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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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 · 79 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
