2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 132 schools in the Plains States Region to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Washington University in St Louis to be the best school for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Plains States Region .
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $58,866 to cover tuition and fees at WUSTL. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,648 in student loans.
WUSTL does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 132 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Saint Benedict landed the # 2 spot on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $50,126 to cover tuition and fees at CSB. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellevue University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
The average tuition and fees at Bellevue University is $8,310. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $29,741 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bellevue University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 95% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 132 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the # 4 spot on the list.
Full-time students from North Dakota pay an average of $8,195 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Valley City State University. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,969. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,070 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Valley City State University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Johns University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
The average tuition and fees at SJU is $49,842. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Carleton College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list.
The average tuition and fees at Carleton is $60,225. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
If you want to attend UST MN, expect to pay an average of $48,329 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UST MN accumulate an average of $21,455 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UST MN. In fact, around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Drake University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list.
Drake does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $45,912. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,572 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Drake, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Ottawa University - Online came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
If you want to attend Ottawa University - Online, expect to pay an average of $12,616 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $31,479 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Ottawa University - Online is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Grinnell College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Grinnell does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $58,648. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Northwestern College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
NWC does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $33,590. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NWC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 27% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #12, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Mizzou is $11,475. Out-of-state students pay an average of $30,450. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,927 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Mizzou. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
Macalester College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $60,518 to cover tuition and fees at Macalester. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Macalester accumulate an average of $19,654 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Iowa State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Iowa State is $9,634. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,446. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Iowa State accumulate an average of $23,598 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Iowa State. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at Gustavus Adolphus is $50,490. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,571 in loans while pursuing their degree.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UNL is $9,590. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $26,720. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,252 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UNL does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Northern Iowa landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $9,053 in tuition and fees if they attend UNI full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,753. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,939 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UNI does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 85% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
St Olaf College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at St. Olaf. In fact, around 92% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UMN Twin Cities is $15,254. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $33,818. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,575 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UMN Twin Cities does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Winona State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Winona State is $10,184. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,684. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,110 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Winona State does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bemidji State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Bemidji State University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $9,806. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,810 in student loans.
Bemidji State University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Southwestern College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $34,900 to cover tuition and fees at SC. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,267 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at SC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Missouri University of Science and Technology is $11,509. Out-of-state students pay an average of $31,099. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Missouri University of Science and Technology accumulate an average of $24,872 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Missouri University of Science and Technology does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Concordia College at Moorhead ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
If you want to attend Concordia College Moorhead, expect to pay an average of $28,016 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Concordia College Moorhead accumulate an average of $22,901 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Concordia College Moorhead. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Augustana University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
If you want to attend Augustana Sioux Falls, expect to pay an average of $35,914 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,115 in loans while pursuing their degree.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Mary | Bismarck, ND |
| 27 | Simpson College | Indianola, IA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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