2023 Most Popular Master'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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 197 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular master'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 Master's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
The excellent master’s degree programs at Capella University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Plains States Region . Capella University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 6,772 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Capella University. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 2,946 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UMN Twin Cities, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 197 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Webster University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Webster is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,578 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Webster, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 61% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Washington University in St Louis is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2,343 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WUSTL does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Kansas came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This large public school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 1,560 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at KU. In fact, around 69% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,553 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Maryville U, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of Iowa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the large public school awarded 1,494 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Iowa does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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, 33% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,423 students in 2020-2021.
Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Mizzou does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 67% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,292 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Missouri State. In fact, around 72% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #11 on the list. SMU MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,275 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
One thing to take note of is that SMU MN does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bellevue University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,164 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Bellevue University. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #13, Kansas State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, the large public school awarded 1,146 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
K -State does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 52% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 1,102 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UMKC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #15, Emporia State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Emporia State University is a medium-sized public school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 1,074 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since ESU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #16, University of Central Missouri did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. UCM is a fairly large public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 1,027 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UCM. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 46% took at least some of their classes online.
University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. UST MN is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 980 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
UST MN does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 80% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Nebraska landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Seward, Nebraska, and it awarded 964 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Concordia University, Nebraska is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
Iowa State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 957 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Iowa State does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Fort Hays State University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Hays, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 924 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
FHSU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 93% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 919 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UNL. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
Saint Louis University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 868 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at SLU. In 2019-2020 about 57% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #23, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 845 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Northwest does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the fairly large public school handed out 833 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
UNOMAHA does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 59% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Lindenwood University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 816 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Lindenwood University. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 30 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN |
| 32 | Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS |
| 33 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 34 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, NE |
| 34 | University of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD |
| 36 | Maharishi International University | Fairfield, IA |
| 37 | University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA |
| 38 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO |
| 39 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus | Fargo, ND |
| 40 | Creighton University | Omaha, NE |
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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