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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/bioethics-medical-ethics/medical-health-humanities/) 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 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region

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

1

Missouri State University Springfield
Springfield, MO

$9,502 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,408 Avg Student Debt

$49,827 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Missouri State University Springfield the best value for a degree in value in the The Plains States Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Value graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Early-career value 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.

2

Creighton University
Omaha, NE

$48,856 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,831 Avg Student Debt

$73,911 Median Earnings (10yr)

Creighton University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Value graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $64,369. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 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.