America’s heartland has a lot to offer — beautiful scenery, booming industry, vast farmlands, and fantastic colleges. In fact, some of the very best colleges in the US are located in the plains region.
For this list, we’re including the following states in the plains region: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Top 25 Best Colleges in the Plains Region
Washington University in St. Louis was named after George Washington and founded in 1853. A private research university, the school receives around 32,000 applications a year and accepts about 3,870 students annually. Commonly chosen majors are Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, and Finance. Top sports on campus include Basketball, Football, and Track and Field and Cross Country.
Location
Saint Louis, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
17,012
Part of the Midwest Conference, the most popular sports at Carleton College include Track and Field and Cross Country, Football, and Swimming and Diving. They’re known as the Knights and wear blue and maize for school colors. Biology/Biological Sciences is the top major, but International Relations and Affairs, Computer Science, and Research and Experimental Psychology are also popular choices.
Location
Northfield, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,059
The two most popular majors at Grinnell College are Biochemistry and Computer Science. Part of the Midwest Conference and NCAA Division III, the Pioneers, wearing scarlet and black, have a wide variety of sports to choose from including Football, Swimming and Diving (combined), and Basketball. They currently have 423 athletes and their unofficial mascot is a squirrel.
Location
Grinnell, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,759
Exclusively for undergraduates, Macalester College has an acceptance rate of 28%. They have a relatively low student-to-faculty ratio (10 to 1) and a high 91% first year retention rate. Although the school is located in Minnesota, many students also come from California, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Macalester’s campus is located near the Mississippi River.
Location
St. Paul, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,175
Founded by Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, St. Olaf has actually been visited by King Olav and King Harald V. Their mascot is St. Olaf Lion and the school’s athletes are known as the Oles. The school accepts 52% of students, with many going on to major in Biology, Economics, Mathematics, and Research and Experimental Psychology.
Location
Northfield, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,046
The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities’ campus is actually made up of two locations, 3 miles apart: Minneapolis and Falcon Heights. Also known as U of M or Minnesota, their motto is “Commune vinculum omnibus artibus” or “A common bond for all the arts.” It’s the largest and oldest school in the University of Minnesota system and actually got its start in 1851, before Minnesota was even a state.
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
54,955
Registered Nursing is by far the most popular area of study for Creighton University. With a first year retention rate of 92%, a majority of students come from Nebraska and the surrounding states. The campus is located near the Missouri River on the border of Nebraska and Iowa. Blue and white are the school colors and their mascot, appropriately, is a bluejay.
Location
Omaha, NE
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,397
The second oldest Jesuit university in the country, SLU is also the oldest university west of the Mississippi. Although they are based in St. Louis, they also have a campus in Madrid, Spain. The school boasts a low 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a high 87% first year retention rate. Registered Nursing, Law, and Medicine are popular majors.
Location
St. Louis, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
15,755
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 74% four year graduation rate.
Location
Saint Joseph, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,470
The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota was founded in 1885 as a Catholic Seminary. Named after Thomas Aquinas, he is now the patron saint of the students attending the university. The main campus of the school is located in Saint Paul, but other campuses and properties can be found in Minneapolis, Owatonna, and Rome, Italy.
Location
Saint Paul, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
9,025
Track is a very popular sport on campus, which shouldn’t be a surprise given the university hosts the famed Drake Relays. In 1935, Jesse Owens set an American broad jump record during the Relays! The Drake Bulldogs also compete in football, basketball, soccer, and tennis. On the academic side of things, the most popular majors are Marketing, Legal Studies, and Psychology.
Location
Des Moines, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,685
The University of Iowa has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 89% first year retention rate. The oldest university in the state, the school offers over 200 areas of study. The top major is Kinesiology and Exercise Science. Flannery O’Connor and Gene Wilder are famous alumni from the school. Athletes are known as Hawkeyes and their team is led by Herky the Hawk.
Location
Iowa City, IA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
30,015
Saint John’s University is an all-male school that has a partnership with the College of Saint Benedict, the women’s college. They share curriculum and access to resources on either campus. Saint John’s has a 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an 86% first year retention rate. Wearing cardinal and blue, athletes are known as Johnnies.
Location
Collegeville, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,645
Popular majors at Gustavus Adolphus College include Psychology, Biology, Business, and Speech Communication. The school does not charge students for applications. 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
Martin Luther College is Via Veritas Vita, which is Latin for “The Way, the Truth, the Life.” Elementary Education and Teaching is the most popular major, followed by Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies. 84% of applicants are accepted, and 86% of the students on campus study at the undergraduate level.
Location
New Ulm, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
880
The most popular major at the University of Missouri – Columbia is Business, closely followed by Health Services and Journalism. It was the first public university west of the Mississippi. The Missouri School of Journalism was founded in 1908, the first journalism school in the world. Famous alumni have included Chris Cooper, Sheryl Crow, Jon Hamm, and Brad Pitt.
Location
Columbia, MO
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
31,304
Iowa State University, also known as simply Iowa State, was one of the founding members of the Big 12. They have 16 varsity teams which have won several NCAA national championships. The Cyclones are led by their mascot Cy the Cardinal and they wear the colors cardinal and gold. A majority of students come from Iowa and the surrounding states.
Location
Ames, IA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
29,969
Bethel University has an American Baptist religious affiliation and is set on Valentine Lake in St. Paul. The school accepts 72% of applicants and it is free to apply. Registered Nursing, Business Administration, and Communication are the most popular majors among students.
Location
Saint Paul, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,546
Luther College, which has a first year retention rate of 81%, 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
Concordia College has a lower student-to-faculty ratio at 12 to 1, as well as a first year retention rate at 84%. The school features a robust music program with several choirs, bands, and orchestras and a strong athletic program. Students and athletes are known as the Cobbers and compete in a variety of sports including Football, Basketball, and Ice Hockey.
Location
Moorhead, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,903
Cornell College receives around 3,090 applications each year and about 81% of those applicants will be accepted. It is free to apply. The most popular majors among students are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Engineering. 100% of those attending the college receive institutional grant aid (about $35,628 on average per student).
Location
Mount Vernon, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,073
The University of Kansas, also known as KU, is the state’s flagship university. The school athletes compete in the Big 12 Conference. Known as the Jayhawks, there are 16 available varsity sports and several club level sports available to students. The most popular majors among students are Psychology, Accounting, and Pharmacy.
Location
Lawrence, KS
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
26,708
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
There is no application fee at Rockhurst University, where they accept 67% of students. Nursing is by far the most popular major followed by Health and Wellness. Rockhurt’s motto is Sapientia Aedificavit Sibi Domum which is Latin for “Wisdom has built herself a home.”
Location
Kansas City, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,405
Kansas State University is a land-grant university and was founded in 1868. The school accepts almost 80% of applicants and top majors for students include Animal Sciences, Mechanical Engineering and Nutrition Sciences. K-State is in the Big 12 Athletic Conference and the school’s mascot is Willie the Wildcat.
Location
Manhattan, KS
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
19,722
State Grant Aid in the Plains Region
Between loans and 529 plans, affording college can get expensive and confusing. However, many states – including those in the plains region – offer state grants and scholarships to their students. These financial aid awards can make attending your dream school a reality. To learn more about what these states and others offer, we recommend beginning with our State Grants Guide here.
Why Are the Plains a Great Place to Go to School?
When people think of the plains states, they may think of corn and flying over to reach the west or east coasts. However, this region has so much to offer its students!
When it comes to the region’s cities, they can have some amazing getaway locations. Minneapolis, for example, is home to the Mall of America and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. In Saint Louis, you can plan a trip to the STL Zoo or the Silver Dollar City amusement park. Many cities in these states also have their own local museums, botanical gardens, sports stadiums, and so much more.
And if you love the outdoors, the plains region of the United States has so much to offer! It’s home to some of the most stunning national and state parks including the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and the Badlands National Park which actually contains one of the richest fossil beds in the world.
The plains region shouldn’t be overlooked if you’re on the search for your future college. The dramatic landscapes and unique destinations these states can offer can add a world of experiences to your time in college.
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 uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability as we are a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
