2026 Best Value Women’s Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Women's Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/womens-studies/) 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 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value women’s studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Women’s Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in women’s studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Women’s Studies Schools
University Of Kansas earned the #1 spot for value among women's studies schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Early-career women's studies graduates make about $56,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value women's studies schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Women's Studies graduates carry a median of $21,964 in student loans. Women's Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $33,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,964 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #3 place for women's studies. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for women's studies graduates is $23,495. Early-career women's studies graduates make about $53,900. Set against $23,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
A rank of #4 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the best values for women's studies. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,585 to complete the women's studies program here. Women's Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Iowa one of the best values for women's studies. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for women's studies graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $34,216. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
