2023 Best 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 213 schools in the Plains States Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found College of Saint Benedict to be the best school for students in the Plains States Region .
After graduating from CSB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,995 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Schools in the Plains States Region list.
On average, students take out $18,648 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, WUSTL graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $61,341 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Saint Johns University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Schools in the Plains States Region list.
After graduating from SJU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,681 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Valley City State University is a great place for students.
On average, students take out $22,578 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Valley City State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,881 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Once they receive their degree, Carleton graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,874 during the early year of their career.
University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #6 on the list.
Degree recipients from UST MN accumulate an average of $21,455 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $307.After graduating from UST MN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,351 during the early years of their career.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus accumulate an average of $23,645 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,464 during the early year of their career.
Bismarck State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #8 on the list.
On average, students take out $16,840 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, BSC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $55,404 during the early year of their career.
Northwestern College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
After graduating from NWC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,021 during the early years of their career.
Grinnell College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
After graduating from Grinnell, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,615 during the early years of their career.
Drake University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
On average, students take out $20,572 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $432 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Drake graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,927 during the early year of their career.
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
On average, students take out $21,797 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $398.After graduating from Mizzou, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,901 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Mount Marty University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,631 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Mount Marty graduates make an average of $80,285 annually.
Macalester College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Schools in the Plains States Region list.
On average, students take out $19,654 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Macalester graduates make an average of $37,812 annually.
With a ranking of #15, Bellevue University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Bellevue University accumulate an average of $29,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Bellevue University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,053 during the early year of their career.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,571 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Gustavus Adolphus graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,133 during the early year of their career.
Iowa State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #17 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,598 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $257. During the early years of their career, Iowa State graduates make an average of $48,142 annually.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #18 on the list.
Degree recipients from UNL accumulate an average of $21,763 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $298 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UNL graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,380 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #19, St Olaf College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
During the early years of their career, St. Olaf graduates make an average of $34,897 annually.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
On average, students take out $24,533 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, North Hennepin Community College graduates make an average of $42,370 annually.
University of Northern Iowa ranked #21 on this year’s Best Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Degree recipients from UNI accumulate an average of $22,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $172 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,810 during the early years of their career.
Missouri University of Science and Technology came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
On average, students take out $24,872 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $336, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Missouri University of Science and Technology graduates make an average of $63,979 annually.
Read full report on Missouri University of Science and Technology
Winona State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Schools in the Plains States Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,110 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $176 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Winona State graduates make an average of $44,424 annually.
Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #24 on the list.
On average, students take out $22,832 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Dunwoody College of Technology, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,418 during the early years of their career.
Concordia College at Moorhead landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
On average, students take out $22,901 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Concordia College Moorhead graduates make an average of $34,477 annually.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
33 | University of Mary | Bismarck, ND |
34 | Ranken Technical College | Saint Louis, MO |
35 | Bethel University Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
36 | Wartburg College | Waverly, IA |
37 | Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon, IA |
38 | Luther College | Decorah, IA |
39 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD |
40 | Southwestern College | Winfield, KS |
41 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus | Fargo, ND |
42 | Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN |
43 | University of Minnesota - Crookston | Crookston, MN |
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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