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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/health-medical-preparatory-programs/pre-physician-assistant/) 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.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.

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

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Value Schools

1

Butler Community College
El Dorado, KS

$3,541 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,670 Avg Student Debt

$41,206 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in value, no school beat Butler Community College this year. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,541, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Grand View University
Des Moines, IA

$34,762 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,941 Avg Student Debt

$52,824 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grand View University earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,762 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,941 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Grand View University generally make around $45,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.

View All Value Rankings >

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 · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.