2026 Best Value Value Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/general/) 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 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
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
Ozarks Technical Community College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the The Plains States Region. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $15,866 in student loans. Value graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $36,644 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Southeast Community College Area one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,552 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $28,473 early in their careers. Set against $14,552 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,945, compared with $20,949 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,822. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $40,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rockhurst University earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,966. Value graduates carry a median of $24,111 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $70,849. Set against $24,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Kansas Wesleyan University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #5 spot this year. Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Salina. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,630. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,330. Value graduates of Kansas Wesleyan University earn a median of $37,301 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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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 · 8 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.
