ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value African American Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

2 Colleges in the United States
$22,006 Avg Student Debt
$73,321 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value African American Studies Badge [African American Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for african american studies students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/african-american-studies/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

2026 Best Value African American Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in african american studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value African American Studies Schools

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best value for a degree in african american studies in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for african american studies graduates is $21,964. Soon after graduation, african american studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $33,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.

2
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #2 place for african american studies. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the african american studies program here. Early-career african american studies graduates make about $34,216. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.

3

A rank of #3 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the best values for african american studies. 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. Typical student debt for african american studies graduates is $17,553. African American Studies graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $16,635 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #173
View All African American Studies Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options