2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/ethnic-cultural-other/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,964. Early-career value graduates make about $33,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value 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, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $37,389. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #3 place for value. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $16,635. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
