2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the higher education/higher education administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
For return on investment in higher education/higher education administration, no school beat University Of Missouri St Louis this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $54,832. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Cloud State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in higher education/higher education administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $76,970 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $23,585. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $42,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at Southeast Missouri State University, which ranked #4. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $23,289. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $46,212 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Kansas came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $70,677. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $51,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University landed the #7 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $53,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $24,408. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $47,570. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Capella University came in at #9 for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $35,998. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $67,347. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Dakota landed the #10 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $68,318 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Lindenwood University earned the #11 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $28,663. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $56,609. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $66,860. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa placed #13 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $67,785. That is a strong return on a $24,463 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Sioux Falls landed the #14 spot for higher education/higher education administration value this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Students borrow a median of $26,103 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Sioux Falls generally make around $59,709. That is a strong return on a $26,103 median debt. University Of Sioux Falls admits about 83% of applicants.
Baker University earned the #15 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Baldwin City. Students from in state pay about $35,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,554 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Baker University earn a median of $75,013 early in their careers. Set against $29,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baker University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Saint Mary earned the #16 position for value in higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,380 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $27,810. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $52,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University placed #17 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $33,122 in tuition and fees. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $27,337 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $51,409. That is a strong return on a $27,337 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #18 spot for higher education/higher education administration value 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. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $78,452. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus placed #19 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $64,822 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $94,291 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #21 among the best values for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $47,377 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
