# Best Colleges in Missouri

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-missouri

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in Missouri

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing a college in Missouri can be a significant decision for students and families alike. With 50 institutions on this list, we explore the schools that not only provide education but also put graduates on a path to good earnings and reduced debt. The average earnings for graduates from these schools sit at $49,991.

What sets the top performers apart is their combination of high graduation rates, manageable debt, and the ability to boost graduates' earnings. For instance, Washington University in St. Louis stands out with an impressive 94% graduation rate and an average earning potential of $86,182. Below, you'll see how each institution measures up on these critical metrics, helping you make an informed decision.

Consider the differences between the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Truman State University. The former boasts the highest average earnings at $137,047, but comes with a higher net price of $31,817. In contrast, Truman State has a more accessible net price of $12,780, but its average earnings are significantly lower at $56,280. These distinctions can greatly influence your choice as you weigh costs against potential returns.

## Key Findings

- Washington University in St. Louis graduates earn an average of $86,182.
- Truman State University has a net price of $12,780, making it one of the more affordable options.
- The average graduation rate across these schools is 53%, highlighting significant variation.
- University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy has the highest average earnings but also the highest net price at $31,817.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) | St. Louis, MO | 94% | $86,182 | $21,786 | $17,500 | 0.2x |
| 2 | [Truman State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/truman-state-university) | Kirksville, MO | 68% | $56,280 | $12,780 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 3 | [Missouri University of Science and Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology) | Rolla, MO | 64% | $82,957 | $16,298 | $23,250 | 0.28x |
| 4 | [William Jewell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-jewell-college) | Liberty, MO | 64% | $59,268 | $17,562 | $24,498 | 0.41x |
| 5 | [University of Central Missouri](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-missouri) | Warrensburg, MO | 52% | $49,560 | $14,462 | $21,000 | 0.42x |
| 6 | [Rockhurst University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rockhurst-university) | Kansas City, MO | 75% | $67,102 | $25,884 | $18,250 | 0.27x |
| 7 | [Maryville University of Saint Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maryville-university-of-saint-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 69% | $62,105 | $22,066 | $22,000 | 0.35x |
| 8 | [Saint Louis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-louis-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 80% | $70,783 | $24,398 | $25,000 | 0.35x |
| 9 | [Northwest Missouri State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-missouri-state-university) | Maryville, MO | 56% | $47,885 | $16,244 | $21,500 | 0.45x |
| 10 | [Southeast Missouri State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeast-missouri-state-university) | Cape Girardeau, MO | 57% | $44,030 | $15,882 | $21,500 | 0.49x |
| 11 | [Jefferson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jefferson-college) | Hillsboro, MO | 35% | $40,782 | $7,378 | $9,285 | 0.23x |
| 12 | [North Central Missouri College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-missouri-college) | Trenton, MO | 57% | $40,837 | $13,626 | $10,500 | 0.26x |
| 13 | [Ranken Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ranken-technical-college) | Saint Louis, MO | 52% | $55,955 | $18,795 | $12,000 | 0.21x |
| 14 | [Missouri Southern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-southern-state-university) | Joplin, MO | 40% | $42,620 | $12,007 | $19,174 | 0.45x |
| 15 | [Webster University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/webster-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 63% | $50,876 | $27,047 | $23,000 | 0.45x |
| 16 | [Lindenwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lindenwood-university) | Saint Charles, MO | 50% | $53,278 | $19,638 | $26,000 | 0.49x |
| 17 | [Avila University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/avila-university) | Kansas City, MO | 47% | $52,773 | $16,053 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 18 | [Stephens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stephens-college) | Columbia, MO | 45% | $43,071 | $23,459 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 19 | [Ozarks Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ozarks-technical-community-college) | Springfield, MO | 32% | $36,455 | $6,936 | $10,453 | 0.29x |
| 20 | [Moberly Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/moberly-area-community-college) | Moberly, MO | 43% | $37,537 | $6,810 | $10,658 | 0.28x |
| 21 | [Crowder College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/crowder-college) | Neosho, MO | 46% | $35,987 | $9,023 | $9,000 | 0.25x |
| 22 | [Drury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drury-university) | Springfield, MO | 64% | $40,694 | $20,831 | $20,979 | 0.52x |
| 23 | [Ozark Christian College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ozark-christian-college) | Joplin, MO | 66% | $41,297 | $20,580 | $16,772 | 0.41x |
| 24 | [Missouri Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-baptist-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 48% | $46,660 | $27,006 | $22,500 | 0.48x |
| 25 | [Westminster College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westminster-college) | Fulton, MO | 56% | $52,199 | $24,314 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 26 | [East Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-central-college) | Union, MO | 43% | $36,916 | $13,128 | $9,500 | 0.26x |
| 27 | [Mineral Area College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mineral-area-college) | Park Hills, MO | 46% | $35,352 | $12,045 | $10,500 | 0.3x |
| 28 | [University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-health-sciences-and-pharmacy-in-st-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 69% | $137,047 | $31,817 | $17,755 | 0.13x |
| 29 | [Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/park-university) | Parkville, MO | 34% | $56,309 | $21,032 | $21,685 | 0.39x |
| 30 | [Evangel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/evangel-university) | Springfield, MO | 65% | $46,573 | $18,669 | $24,736 | 0.53x |
| 31 | [Missouri Western State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-western-state-university) | Saint Joseph, MO | 39% | $42,647 | $13,251 | $19,968 | 0.47x |
| 32 | [Culver-Stockton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/culver-stockton-college) | Canton, MO | 45% | $46,092 | $21,983 | $26,000 | 0.56x |
| 33 | [Southwest Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwest-baptist-university) | Bolivar, MO | 53% | $43,112 | $21,677 | $20,957 | 0.49x |
| 34 | [Missouri Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-valley-college) | Marshall, MO | 23% | $43,221 | $18,086 | $25,950 | 0.6x |
| 35 | [University of Missouri-Columbia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia) | Columbia, MO | 76% | $63,403 | $20,268 | $20,500 | 0.32x |
| 36 | [University of Missouri-Kansas City](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-kansas-city) | Kansas City, MO | 56% | $59,637 | $13,310 | $18,750 | 0.31x |
| 37 | [College of the Ozarks](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-ozarks) | Point Lookout, MO | 62% | $41,592 | $6,100 | N/A | N/A |
| 38 | [William Woods University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-woods-university) | Fulton, MO | 52% | $42,401 | $26,569 | $21,983 | 0.52x |
| 39 | [State Technical College of Missouri](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-technical-college-of-missouri) | Linn, MO | 82% | $55,901 | $15,190 | $10,986 | 0.2x |
| 40 | [Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-methodist-university-college-of-liberal-arts-and-sciences) | Fayette, MO | 52% | $48,991 | $22,766 | $17,619 | 0.36x |
| 41 | [University of Missouri-St Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-st-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 57% | $53,037 | $15,071 | $20,000 | 0.38x |
| 42 | [Missouri State University-Springfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-state-university-springfield) | Springfield, MO | 58% | $49,827 | $17,613 | $21,992 | 0.44x |
| 43 | [Three Rivers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/three-rivers-college) | Poplar Bluff, MO | 34% | $32,442 | $8,496 | $10,000 | 0.31x |
| 44 | [Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-community-college-kansas-city) | Kansas City, MO | 31% | $40,796 | $8,398 | $10,073 | 0.25x |
| 45 | [St Charles Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-charles-community-college) | Cottleville, MO | 24% | $42,422 | $5,837 | $6,187 | 0.15x |
| 46 | [Cottey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cottey-college) | Nevada, MO | 59% | $35,422 | $13,805 | $19,043 | 0.54x |
| 47 | [Hannibal-LaGrange University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hannibal-lagrange-university) | Hannibal, MO | 47% | $42,643 | $22,814 | $18,599 | 0.44x |
| 48 | [Missouri State University-West Plains](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-state-university-west-plains) | West Plains, MO | 38% | $36,922 | $9,750 | $10,000 | 0.27x |
| 49 | [State Fair Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-fair-community-college) | Sedalia, MO | 42% | $35,562 | $7,985 | $10,500 | 0.3x |
| 50 | [Columbia College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbia-college-mo) | Columbia, MO | 44% | $45,378 | $22,715 | $23,879 | 0.53x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in Missouri." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-missouri

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.