2026 Best Value Spanish Language & Literature Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Spanish Language & Literature](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/romance-languages/spanish-language-literature/) 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 95 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value spanish language & literature schools.
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2026 Best Value Spanish Language & Literature Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in spanish language & literature, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Spanish Language & Literature Schools
Leading the list is Bismarck State College, our #1 best value for spanish language & literature in the The Plains States Region. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $13,340 in student loans. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $61,364. Set against $13,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in spanish language & literature will find it at Grinnell College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,196. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $17,814 in student loans. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $28,691. Set against $17,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a great value for students pursuing a degree in spanish language & literature, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,564, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $22,173 in student loans. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $58,798. Set against $22,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in spanish language & literature will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Spanish Language & Literature graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $31,622 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in spanish language & literature will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #5. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $46,503. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Kansas ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value spanish language & literature schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $56,289. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Winona State University placed #7 among the best values for spanish language & literature. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,017 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $41,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Iowa State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value spanish language & literature schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for spanish language & literature graduates is $23,748. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. That is a strong return on a $23,748 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University came in at #9 for value in spanish language & literature this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $51,260. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #10 for value in spanish language & literature this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for spanish language & literature graduates is $20,865. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $37,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota placed #11 among the best values for spanish language & literature. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Early-career spanish language & literature graduates make about $64,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #12 among the best values for spanish language & literature. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,657 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Spanish Language & Literature graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $31,174 early in their careers. Set against $24,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Iowa landed the #13 spot for spanish language & literature value this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $23,702 in student loans. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $28,746. That is a strong return on a $23,702 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
St Olaf College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value spanish language & literature schools. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Spanish Language & Literature graduates carry a median of $24,830 in student loans. Soon after graduation, spanish language & literature degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $32,094. That is a strong return on a $24,830 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College landed the #15 spot for spanish language & literature value this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete the spanish language & literature program here. Spanish Language & Literature graduates of Macalester College earn a median of $42,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
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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 · 95 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.
