2026 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Real Estate](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/real-estate/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value real estate schools.
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2026 Best Value Real Estate Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in real estate, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Real Estate Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area tops our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the real estate program here. Early-career real estate graduates make about $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value real estate schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $21,783. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $48,906. That is a strong return on a $21,783 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the real estate program here. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $56,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the best values for real estate. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for real estate graduates is $23,923. Soon after graduation, real estate degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
