2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/business-commerce-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 97 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general business/commerce students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general business/commerce degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Leading the list is Metropolitan Community College Area, our #1 best value for general business/commerce in the The Plains States Region. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at Southeast Community College Area, which ranked #2. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $44,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Hennepin Community College earned it the #3 place for general business/commerce. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,061. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $52,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Community College earned it the #4 place for general business/commerce. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $9,988. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $35,818. Set against $9,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,297. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $14,913. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $49,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Century College earned the #6 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Century College earn a median of $40,489 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson College landed the #7 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $13,664 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $47,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Central College earned the #8 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $13,139. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $46,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pine Technical College placed #9 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,738. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $22,454. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Pine Technical College generally make around $44,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bismarck State College landed the #10 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,340 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Bismarck State College generally make around $36,062. That is a strong return on a $13,340 median debt.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned the #11 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,029 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $44,387. Set against $17,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College placed #12 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $42,178. Set against $15,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,908. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $21,122. General Business/commerce graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,122 median debt.
Missouri State University West Plains landed the #14 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Located in the town of West Plains, Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,936, while out-of-state students pay about $8,106. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Missouri State University West Plains earn a median of $42,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Missouri College came in at #15 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $16,685. General Business/commerce graduates of North Central Missouri College earn a median of $40,934 early in their careers. Set against $16,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #16 spot for general business/commerce value this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $21,538 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $68,451. That is a strong return on a $21,538 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
St Cloud Technical And Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College generally make around $48,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri Southern State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $20,737 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $44,262 early in their careers. Set against $20,737 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Anoka Ramsey Community College earned the #19 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,682. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $20,750. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $39,962. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Normandale Community College came in at #20 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,329. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $20,700. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $53,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #21 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $21,853. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $71,045. That is a strong return on a $21,853 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #22 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,326. Students borrow a median of $17,650 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $38,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #23 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $20,291. General Business/commerce graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $47,439 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,291 median debt.
Barton County Community College came in at #24 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,680, while out-of-state students pay about $4,960. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $14,792. General Business/commerce graduates of Barton County Community College earn a median of $44,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,792 median debt.
Mineral Area College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Park Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,660, compared with $8,570 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $46,535. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general business/commerce value ranking:
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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 · 97 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 45 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.
