2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Community Health and Preventive Medicine](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/community-health-and-preventive-medicine/) 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 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the community health and preventive medicine degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Community Health and Preventive Medicine Schools
Leading the list is Saint Cloud State University, our #1 best value for community health and preventive medicine in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $17,850. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $32,830 early in their careers. Set against $17,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for community health and preventive medicine. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $22,635. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Kansas State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $23,546. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $49,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in community health and preventive medicine will find it at Fontbonne University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,976 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,503 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $46,039. That is a strong return on a $33,503 median debt.
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value community health and preventive medicine schools. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $40,809 to complete the community health and preventive medicine program here. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $35,433. Set against $40,809 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Dakota came in at #7 for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $26,322. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $54,328. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #8 for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,080. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $69,785. Set against $27,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa earned the #9 position for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for community health and preventive medicine graduates is $22,469. Early-career community health and preventive medicine graduates make about $48,836. That is a strong return on a $22,469 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
St Catherine University came in at #10 for value in community health and preventive medicine this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,428 in tuition and fees. Community Health And Preventive Medicine graduates carry a median of $29,815 in student loans. Soon after graduation, community health and preventive medicine degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $52,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. St Catherine University admits about 92% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 19 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.