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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region

1 Colleges in the United States
$23,608 Avg Student Debt
$61,945 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Value Badge [Value](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/applied-statistics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

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:

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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

1
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

For return on investment in value, no school beat University Of Kansas this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,608. Value graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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