America’s heartland (or, the Plains region as we call it) is vast, fertile, and filled with various industries. Additionally, the Plains region home to exceptional institutions that you might consider “hidden gem” colleges.
What Is a “Hidden Gem?”
All of our rankings account for things like diversity, endowment, graduation rates, and more. To be classified as a “hidden gem”, every school on this college rankings list meets the following criteria:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications per year
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students
- Offer 5 or more unique majors
- Have a 10% acceptance rate or higher
The following states are included in the Plains region: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
2025 Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains
IOWA
Luther College, which has an 81% first year retention rate, got its start as a Lutheran seminary by Norwegian immigrants. The upper campus is on the National Register of Historic Places which is a list of buildings and structures that are considered of historical significance. In the lower part of the school, students can see the Upper Iowa River flowing through.
Location
Decorah, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,610
Cornell College is a liberal arts college that went away from a traditional academic calendar in 1978 to a block plan structure. Now students can take one class at a time in an 18-day block for an immersive experience. The school has an 81% acceptance rate and it is free to apply.
Location
Mount Vernon, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,073
Simpson College was originally known as the Indianola Male and Female Seminary when established in 1860. Athletes are known as The Storm and, wearing Red and Gold, are cheered on by their mascot Thunder the Elephant. Business Administration and Management and Health and Wellness are the two most popular majors.
Location
Indianola, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,151
KANSAS
Benedictine College’s core values are built into the four “pillars” of the school which are known as Catholic, Benedictine, Liberal Arts, and Residential. The college’s motto is “Forward. Always Forward.” Its campus is located along the bends of the Missouri River. The most popular majors at the school are Registered Nursing, Theology, and Finance.
Location
Atchison, KS
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,362
Baker University is a small, liberal arts college that was founded in 1858 and has a United Methodist affiliation. The school accepts 92% of applicants and it costs $0 to apply. All students who decide to attend will receive institutional aid. Top majors at Baker University are Registered Nursing and Business Administration.
Location
Baldwin City, KS
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,105
Gus the Gorilla cheers on the athletes of Pittsburg State University where a wide variety of sports are available including track, basketball, football, and volleyball. Their motto is “By doing, learn” and the most popular majors are Registered Nursing and Construction Management. 75% of students attending Pitt State receive grant aid and 69% receive institutional grant aid.
Location
Pittsburg, KS
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
5,858
MINNESOTA
Partnered with Saint John’s University for men, the College of Saint Benedict is exclusively for women. The school got its start in 1913 with only six students. Today, resources are shared between the two campuses, a partnership that began in 1955. They have an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 89% first year retention rate, and 79% four-year graduation rate.
Location
Saint Joseph, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,470
Saint John’s University is a men’s school, and the brother college of St. Benedict - an all women’s school. Their partnership began in 1955 and the two joined 1961. Over 90% of faculty possess a doctorate or terminal degree. Business Administration and Management, Accounting, and Economics are popular majors at SJU.
Location
Collegeville, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,645
Popular majors at Gustavus Adolphus College include Psychology, Biology, Business, Registered Nursing, and Speech Communication. The school does not charge students for applications and accept about 62% of applicants. Gus the Lion is the mascot for the school’s sports teams - the Golden Gusties. Black and gold are the official school colors.
Location
St. Peter, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,072
MISSOURI
Rockhurst University students learn under the traditional Ignatian philosophy regarding academics, leadership, and service. With a heavy focus on values and ethics, students who graduate get a transcript for grades as well as their community service. The school motto, “Sapientia Aedificavit Sibi Domum”, means “Wisdom has built herself a home.”
Location
Kansas City, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,405
This university is named in honor of Harry S. Truman, who was a Missouri native. Popular majors include Business Administration and Management, Kinesiology, and Biology. Athletes are known as Bulldogs and their mascots are Spike and Simone. Truman State has an 80% acceptance rate and $0 application fee.
Location
Kirksville, MO
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
3,960
College of the Ozarks is a selective school accepting only 14% of applicants, but it is free for students to apply. The school boasts a 15:1 student to faculty ratio and 81% first year retention rate. By far the most popular major is Business Administration followed by Elementary Education and Psychology.
Location
Point Lookout, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,487
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Wesleyan University, or NWU, is a private university associated with United Methodists. The school has an 84% acceptance rate and it is $0 to apply. Competing in the American Rivers Conference, the over 600 athletes are known as the Prairie Wolves and wear black and gold.
Location
Lincoln, NE
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,688
Concordia University-Nebraska is affiliation with the Lutheran church. The school accepts 90% of applicants, has a $0 application fee, and 100% of students attending receive institutional grant aid. The most popular majors among students are Business/Commerce, Biology, and Teacher Education.
Location
Seward, NE
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,047
A very small school, Hastings College has a 70% acceptance rate, $0 application fee, and offers institutional grant aid to all students who attend. Over half of the student population calls Nebraska home, but many also come from Colorado to attend. Hastings College’s motto is Pro Rege which is Latin for “For the King.”
Location
Hastings, NE
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
936
NORTH DAKOTA
Although the University of Mary calls North Dakota its home, campuses can be found all over the world, including in Rome, Italy and Arequipa, Peru. They accept 78% of applicants, have a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an 80% first year retention rate. Its campus is located next to the Missouri River.
Location
Bismark, ND
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,652
Valley City State University has more women on campus than men (58% of undergraduate students are women). The campus sits on 55 acres and is bordered by a forest to the south and the Sheyenne River to the north. The school is even listed as a Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places.
Location
Valley City, ND
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,658
A space-grant college, Minot State University, also known as MiSU, is found just south of the Canadian border. 91% are undergraduates and 9% graduate students. Many undergraduates are majoring in Social Work, Registered Nursing, and Business Administration and Management. 85% of students receive institutional grant aid.
Location
Minot, ND
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,777
SOUTH DAKOTA
At Augustana University, navy blue and gold are the official colors of the Vikings, who compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Registered Nursing, Biology, Business Administration, and Elementary Education are the top 4 most popular majors on campus, and the school has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 100% of students attending Augustana receive institutional aid to help pay for college.
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,086
Known more commonly as SD Mines, this school’s ambitious motto is “Advancing the frontier of innovation.” The alumni are equally ambitious, going onto careers in politics, law, business, military, and academics. The most popular major at SD Mines is Mechanical Engineering, followed by Civil Engineering and Computer and Information Sciences.
Location
Rapid City, SD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,492
Mount Marty University is a small, liberal arts college with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Registered Nursing and Health and Physical Education are the most popular majors among students. It has a 48% acceptance rate, $0 application fee, and 60% six year graduation rate.
Location
Yankton, SD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,252
Why Should You Consider Going to a Hidden Gem?
Even if you’ve never heard of the college, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go there! There are nearly 4,000 schools in the United States that grant degrees, with hundreds in the Plains Region. It’s impossible to know them all.
College Raptor’s Hidden Gems are top rated schools that simply don’t get as many applications as the big names, like the University of Missouri and the University of Iowa, for example. Almost all Hidden Gem schools are pulled from the top 33% of our own overall rankings. As a result, most of these schools on our Hidden Gems list will have solid statistics backing them up.
Here are a few reasons why Hidden Gem schools should be on your radar:
- They tend to be more affordable. Smaller schools, on average, are less expensive compared to larger colleges.
- They’re perfect for students who want a smaller school. All of the Hidden Gems on our list have fewer than 7,000 students.
- They can be easier to get into. Fewer applicants can often mean higher acceptance rates. This isn’t an iron clad rule, but it’s definitely a trend.
- They have a selection of programs. Each of the schools below has outstanding programs and opportunities for their students.
- There’s at least one in each state. Some states have many more colleges compared to other states, but we’ve included at least one Hidden Gem from each state.
Why is the Plains Region a Great Place to Go to School?
When you think of the plains, you likely conjure images of wheat, corn, and buffalo, but the area has so much to offer students! These states are home to some of the most unique natural parks in the country, for example! And the cities have plenty to do with zoos, museums, one-of-a-kind events, botanical gardens, and more. And if you like to see the seasons change, here you’ll get all four.
Interested in any of these Plains region Hidden Gem colleges? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
College Raptor is a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. As such we are uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
