# Best Education Colleges in Missouri

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 37 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-missouri

## Methodology

Education programs in Missouri ranked by outcomes and program concentration

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.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Central Missouri](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-missouri) | Warrensburg, MO | 52% | $49,560 | $14,462 | $21,000 | 0.42x |
| 2 | [Northwest Missouri State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-missouri-state-university) | Maryville, MO | 56% | $47,885 | $16,244 | $21,500 | 0.45x |
| 3 | [William Jewell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-jewell-college) | Liberty, MO | 64% | $59,268 | $17,562 | $24,498 | 0.41x |
| 4 | [Missouri Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-baptist-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 48% | $46,660 | $27,006 | $22,500 | 0.48x |
| 5 | [Evangel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/evangel-university) | Springfield, MO | 65% | $46,573 | $18,669 | $24,736 | 0.53x |
| 6 | [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 |
| 7 | [Stephens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stephens-college) | Columbia, MO | 45% | $43,071 | $23,459 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 8 | [Missouri Southern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-southern-state-university) | Joplin, MO | 40% | $42,620 | $12,007 | $19,174 | 0.45x |
| 9 | [Westminster College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westminster-college) | Fulton, MO | 56% | $52,199 | $24,314 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 10 | [Lindenwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lindenwood-university) | Saint Charles, MO | 50% | $53,278 | $19,638 | $26,000 | 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 | [Webster University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/webster-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 63% | $50,876 | $27,047 | $23,000 | 0.45x |
| 14 | [Avila University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/avila-university) | Kansas City, MO | 47% | $52,773 | $16,053 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 15 | [Southwest Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwest-baptist-university) | Bolivar, MO | 53% | $43,112 | $21,677 | $20,957 | 0.49x |
| 16 | [Moberly Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/moberly-area-community-college) | Moberly, MO | 43% | $37,537 | $6,810 | $10,658 | 0.28x |
| 17 | [Crowder College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/crowder-college) | Neosho, MO | 46% | $35,987 | $9,023 | $9,000 | 0.25x |
| 18 | [Mineral Area College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mineral-area-college) | Park Hills, MO | 46% | $35,352 | $12,045 | $10,500 | 0.3x |
| 19 | [Drury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drury-university) | Springfield, MO | 64% | $40,694 | $20,831 | $20,979 | 0.52x |
| 20 | [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 |
| 21 | [Ozarks Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ozarks-technical-community-college) | Springfield, MO | 32% | $36,455 | $6,936 | $10,453 | 0.29x |
| 22 | [Missouri Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-valley-college) | Marshall, MO | 23% | $43,221 | $18,086 | $25,950 | 0.6x |
| 23 | [East Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-central-college) | Union, MO | 43% | $36,916 | $13,128 | $9,500 | 0.26x |
| 24 | [William Woods University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-woods-university) | Fulton, MO | 52% | $42,401 | $26,569 | $21,983 | 0.52x |
| 25 | [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 |
| 26 | [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 |
| 27 | [Hannibal-LaGrange University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hannibal-lagrange-university) | Hannibal, MO | 47% | $42,643 | $22,814 | $18,599 | 0.44x |
| 28 | [Missouri State University-Springfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-state-university-springfield) | Springfield, MO | 58% | $49,827 | $17,613 | $21,992 | 0.44x |
| 29 | [University of Missouri-Columbia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia) | Columbia, MO | 76% | $63,403 | $20,268 | $20,500 | 0.32x |
| 30 | [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 |
| 31 | [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 |
| 32 | [Three Rivers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/three-rivers-college) | Poplar Bluff, MO | 34% | $32,442 | $8,496 | $10,000 | 0.31x |
| 33 | [St Charles Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-charles-community-college) | Cottleville, MO | 24% | $42,422 | $5,837 | $6,187 | 0.15x |
| 34 | [Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drury-university-college-of-continuing-professional-studies) | Springfield, MO | 39% | $40,694 | $10,566 | $20,979 | 0.52x |
| 35 | [Harris-Stowe State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/harris-stowe-state-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 28% | $31,088 | $9,922 | $25,930 | 0.83x |
| 36 | [Lincoln University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-university-mo) | Jefferson City, MO | 22% | $39,463 | $19,092 | $28,875 | 0.73x |
| 37 | [Mission University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mission-university) | Springfield, MO | 41% | $38,641 | $21,383 | $26,168 | 0.68x |

## 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 Education Colleges in Missouri." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-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/.