Best Colleges in Missouri

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked first and Washington University in St Louis ranked second for the best colleges in Missouri. With a quarter or more of the student population participating in Greek life, students will find a range of social opportunities in this party state. Misouri is also known for their barbeque culture, Civil War battlefields, and the beautiful Ozarks.

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Studying in Missouri

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Best Colleges in Missouri

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20 of 37

#1 in Missouri | #31 in National Universities
Economic score 1.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,799

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,957

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Missouri | #34 in National Universities
Economic score 1.49

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,768

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $86,182

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Missouri | #100 in National Universities
Economic score 2.59

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,242

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,637

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Missouri

Ranken Technical College

Saint Louis, Missouri

Economic score 2.65

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,359

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,955

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Missouri

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

Economic score 2.81

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,256

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,280

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Missouri | #133 in National Universities

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Economic score 3.01

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $26,548

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $70,783

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Missouri

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri

Economic score 3.11

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,294

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $67,102

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Missouri | #141 in National Universities
Economic score 3.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,979

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,403

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Missouri | #146 in National Universities
Economic score 3.18

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,986

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,037

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Missouri

William Jewell College

Liberty, Missouri

Economic score 3.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,200

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,268

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Missouri

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

Economic score 3.81

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,009

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,309

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Missouri | #216 in National Universities
Economic score 3.91

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,410

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,105

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Missouri

Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri

Economic score 4.37

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,220

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,773

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Missouri

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Economic score 4.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,806

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,278

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Missouri

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

Economic score 4.95

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,759

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,560

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 57%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Missouri

Cox College

Springfield, Missouri

Economic score 5.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,124

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,867

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Missouri
Economic score 5.39

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,732

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,885

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Missouri | #325 in National Universities
Economic score 6.05

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,262

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,827

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 61%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Missouri | #122 in Liberal Arts

Westminster College

Fulton, Missouri

Economic score 6.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $26,380

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,199

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Missouri

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Economic score 6.91

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,378

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,876

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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Average income based on education level

The following figures are the average salaries in Missouri for each level of education.

Average Income

The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

HS Diploma $35,612
Certificate $44,117
Associate $49,153
Bachelor $56,117
Master $66,757

Cost of attending college in Missouri

In-state-tuition $19,316

The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Out-of-state-tuition $21,683

The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Most popular degrees in Missouri

In Missouri the most popular degrees are Business Administration, Registered Nursing, and Business and Commerce. To create this list, we complied and analyzed data from IPEDS and College Scorecard. 

They both provide information on how many graduates each program has annually. The list below is both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs. 

Fastest growing careers

Missouri job growth 7.3%

Nurse Practitioners
47.5%
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
46.9%
Computer and Information Research Scientists
39.3%
Statisticians
33.3%
Information Security Analysts
32.8%
Occupational Therapy Assistants
31.2%
Physical Therapist Assistants
29.5%
Physician Assistants
28.9%
Medical and Health Services Managers
28%
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
27.6%

Best bachelor’s degrees in Missouri

These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.

Best colleges for social mobility in Missouri

Higher education is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds. 

To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).  

The best colleges for social mobility in Missouri are shown below.

Explore other states

Propel your career from anywhere.

Take our quiz to find the online degree that’s best for you. Compare hundreds of schools and apply to your dream college today.