2026 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Industrial & Organizational Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/industrial-and-organizational-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial & organizational psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial & organizational psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial & organizational psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools
For return on investment in industrial & organizational psychology, no school beat University Of Missouri St Louis this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,943 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $53,079. Set against $25,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & organizational psychology will find it at University Of Nebraska At Omaha, which ranked #2. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $21,783. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $48,906. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #3 makes Missouri University Of Science And Technology one of the best values for industrial & organizational psychology. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $25,187. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $74,532. That is a strong return on a $25,187 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in industrial & organizational psychology will find it at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #4. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $24,948. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $50,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial & organizational psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $57,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Emporia State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $23,131. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $46,440. That is a strong return on a $23,131 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Avila University came in at #8 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $40,200. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $29,750. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $56,895. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
South Dakota State University came in at #9 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University landed the #10 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $35,998. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates of Capella University earn a median of $57,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
Washington University In St Louis earned the #11 position for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #12 for value in industrial & organizational psychology this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial & organizational psychology degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $73,323. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial & organizational psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $67,909. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Bellevue University landed the #14 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Students borrow a median of $24,846 to complete the industrial & organizational psychology program here. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $61,548. Set against $24,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midamerica Nazarene University landed the #15 spot for industrial & organizational psychology value this year. Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Olathe. In-state tuition and fees average $37,174. Typical student debt for industrial & organizational psychology graduates is $25,740. Early-career industrial & organizational psychology graduates make about $47,940. That is a strong return on a $25,740 median debt. Midamerica Nazarene University admits about 79% of applicants.
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
