2026 Best Value Writing Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Writing Studies](/majors/english-language-literature/writing-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong writing studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 77 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for writing studies students.
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2026 Best Value Writing Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in writing studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Writing Studies Schools
For return on investment in writing studies, no school beat University Of Minnesota Morris this year. Located in the town of Morris, University Of Minnesota Morris is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $14,526 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Students borrow a median of $21,080 to complete the writing studies program here. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $44,479. Set against $21,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Morris admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri St Louis one of the best values for writing studies. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the writing studies program here. Writing Studies graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. Set against $25,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in writing studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Typical student debt for writing studies graduates is $25,187. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $74,532. That is a strong return on a $25,187 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in writing studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the writing studies program here. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #5 makes Normandale Community College one of the best values for writing studies. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,329. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $20,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Truman State University earned the #6 position for value in writing studies this year. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans. Writing Studies graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $16,569 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #7 position for value in writing studies this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Students borrow a median of $24,825 to complete the writing studies program here. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $26,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Wichita State University came in at #8 for value in writing studies this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for writing studies graduates is $24,262. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value writing studies schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Writing Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $38,407 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #10 spot for writing studies value this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the writing studies program here. Writing Studies graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $54,835 early in their careers. Set against $29,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #11 spot for writing studies value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $47,377. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Lindenwood University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value writing studies schools. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Typical student debt for writing studies graduates is $28,663. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $48,018. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #13 position for value in writing studies 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 writing studies graduates is $25,260. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $26,225. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State University earned the #14 position for value in writing studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Typical student debt for writing studies graduates is $26,680. Soon after graduation, writing studies degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $39,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #15 position for value in writing studies this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,862 to complete the writing studies program here. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $29,651. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Hamline University landed the #16 spot for writing studies value this year. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,004. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the writing studies program here. Writing Studies graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $27,167 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #17 spot for writing studies value this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the writing studies program here. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $32,350. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Macalester College earned the #18 position for value in writing studies this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $29,487. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
Drake University placed #19 among the best values for writing studies. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Early-career writing studies graduates make about $56,228. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #20 for value in writing studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Writing Studies graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Writing Studies graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 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
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 · 77 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.
