2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/bioethics-medical-ethics/nursing-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 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
Our analysis ranked Clarkson College the best value for a degree in value in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,104. Value graduates carry a median of $30,052 in student loans. Value graduates of Clarkson College earn a median of $77,377 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #2. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,500. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $75,660. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies admits about 88% of applicants.
Capella University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Capella University earn a median of $72,053 early in their careers. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Mary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #6 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,934. Students borrow a median of $31,121 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earn a median of $72,506 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,121 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Creighton University landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,831. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $64,369. Set against $25,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
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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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
