2026 Best Value International Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region

[International Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/international-economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong international economics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value international economics schools.
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2026 Best Value International Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Economics Schools
For return on investment in international economics, no school beat Fort Hays State University this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Typical student debt for international economics graduates is $25,967. Soon after graduation, international economics degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $50,690. Set against $25,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #2 place for international economics. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. International Economics graduates carry a median of $19,793 in student loans. Soon after graduation, international economics degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $44,898. That is a strong return on a $19,793 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned it the #3 place for international economics. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Students borrow a median of $24,600 to complete the international economics program here. International Economics graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $60,323 early in their careers. Set against $24,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.