2023 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 230 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Minnesota - Twin Cities the most popular school in the Plains States Region for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 9,414 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Minnesota pay an average of $15,254 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UMN Twin Cities. Out-of-state students pay an average of $33,818. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UMN Twin Cities accumulate an average of $21,575 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that UMN Twin Cities does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Out of the 230 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Ames, Iowa, the large public school handed out 6,998 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $9,634 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Iowa State. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Iowa State. In 2019-2020 about 96% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the large public school awarded 5,998 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $9,942 in tuition and fees if they attend Iowa full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $31,905. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,618 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Iowa. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capella University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large private for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 5,286 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $36,933 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 82% were women.
Capella University is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the large public school awarded 5,114 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $11,475 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Mizzou. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $30,450. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Mizzou accumulate an average of $21,927 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Mizzou does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 94% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, the large public school awarded 4,727 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $9,590 in tuition and fees if they attend UNL full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $26,720. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,252 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UNL. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of Kansas landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the large public school handed out 4,600 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Students from Kansas who attend KU full time pay an average of $11,166 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $28,034. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from KU accumulate an average of $23,985 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at KU. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Kansas State University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. This large public school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 3,967 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Kansas who attend K -State full time pay an average of $10,420 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $26,491. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,965 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at K -State. During the 2019-2020 year, about 70% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This large public school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 3,641 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $8,294 in tuition and fees if they attend Missouri State full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,498. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,050 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Missouri State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 59% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Fort Hays State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,223 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $5,430 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend FHSU. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,870. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from FHSU accumulate an average of $28,547 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since FHSU does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. UNOMAHA is located in Omaha, Nebraska and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,567 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UNOMAHA is $8,136. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $21,718. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,853 in student loans. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
UNOMAHA does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Northern Iowa landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,555 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Students from Iowa who attend UNI full time pay an average of $9,053 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,753. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UNI accumulate an average of $22,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UNI does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 85% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,568 students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from North Dakota pay an average of $10,401 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend North Dakota State University. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,876. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,435 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Dakota State University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Wichita State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 2,550 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $8,800 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WSU. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,165. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from WSU accumulate an average of $26,973 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at WSU. In fact, around 57% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #15, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This fairly large public school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 2,524 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Minnesota pay an average of $9,146 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Minnesota State Mankato. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,200. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,437 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Minnesota State Mankato does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Washington University in St Louis landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,441 students in 2020-2021.
WUSTL does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $58,866. 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 $18,648 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
One thing to take note of is that WUSTL does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Bellevue University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,348 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
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. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Bellevue University accumulate an average of $29,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Bellevue 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #18, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 2,288 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UMN Duluth is $13,850. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,148. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,055 in student loans. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that UMN Duluth does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 93% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of North Dakota came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,097 students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UND is $10,596. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,037. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,584 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UND. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,977 students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from South Dakota pay an average of $9,299 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend South Dakota State. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,809. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,563 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since South Dakota State does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Metropolitan State University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,934 students in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $9,394 to cover tuition and fees at Metro State. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Metro State accumulate an average of $31,492 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Metro State. During the 2019-2020 year, about 95% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #22, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UMSL is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 1,889 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UMSL accumulate an average of $27,834 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UMSL does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #23, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UMKC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,863 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Missouri who attend UMKC full time pay an average of $11,271 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $28,023. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $27,022 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UMKC. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 1,859 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $9,170 in tuition and fees if they attend St. Cloud State University full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,010. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from St. Cloud State University accumulate an average of $25,953 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at St. Cloud State University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 39% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Columbia College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,840 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $32,519 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Columbia College Missouri. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 35 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 most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, MO |
| 37 | Concordia University, Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN |
| 38 | Truman State University | Kirksville, MO |
| 39 | Lindenwood University | Saint Charles, MO |
| 40 | Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA |
| 41 | Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS |
| 42 | Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 43 | Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN |
| 44 | St Olaf College | Northfield, MN |
| 45 | Missouri Southern State University | Joplin, MO |
| 46 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, NE |
| 47 | Washburn University | Topeka, KS |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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