# Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri

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

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price 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

Finding an affordable college can feel overwhelming, especially in a state with a range of options like Missouri. This list highlights schools that not only keep costs down but also offer pathways to solid earnings and graduation rates. For many families, understanding these figures is crucial in making a smart financial decision.

What sets these schools apart from others is how they balance affordability with outcomes that really matter. The average earnings for graduates from these institutions is $46,520, and the average graduation rate is 49%. These numbers reveal that while some colleges may have lower prices, they don't always lead to the best financial or educational outcomes. Use the data below to compare net prices, debt levels, and graduation rates to find a school that fits your family's needs.

Take St Charles Community College and Moberly Area Community College, for example. St Charles Community College has a lower net price of $5,837 compared to Moberly's $6,810, but Moberly boasts a higher graduation rate at 43%. This contrast illustrates how families must weigh the benefits of cost against the likelihood of completing a degree. Keep scrolling to explore how these Missouri schools stack up against each other.

## Key Findings

- St Charles Community College has a net price of $5,837, making it one of the most affordable options in Missouri.
- Moberly Area Community College graduates earn an average of $37,537, which is notable for its low cost.
- The average graduation rate across these schools is 49%, highlighting the varying levels of student success.
- Ozarks Technical Community College has a net price of $6,936 and a 32% graduation rate, showing a tradeoff between cost and completion.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Moberly Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/moberly-area-community-college) | Moberly, MO | 43% | $37,537 | $6,810 | $10,658 | 0.28x |
| 2 | [Ozarks Technical Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ozarks-technical-community-college) | Springfield, MO | 32% | $36,455 | $6,936 | $10,453 | 0.29x |
| 3 | [St Charles Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/st-charles-community-college) | Cottleville, MO | 24% | $42,422 | $5,837 | $6,187 | 0.15x |
| 4 | [Jefferson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jefferson-college) | Hillsboro, MO | 35% | $40,782 | $7,378 | $9,285 | 0.23x |
| 5 | [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 |
| 6 | [State Fair Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/state-fair-community-college) | Sedalia, MO | 42% | $35,562 | $7,985 | $10,500 | 0.3x |
| 7 | [Crowder College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/crowder-college) | Neosho, MO | 46% | $35,987 | $9,023 | $9,000 | 0.25x |
| 8 | [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 |
| 9 | [Three Rivers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/three-rivers-college) | Poplar Bluff, MO | 34% | $32,442 | $8,496 | $10,000 | 0.31x |
| 10 | [Missouri Southern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-southern-state-university) | Joplin, MO | 40% | $42,620 | $12,007 | $19,174 | 0.45x |
| 11 | [Truman State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/truman-state-university) | Kirksville, MO | 68% | $56,280 | $12,780 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 12 | [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 |
| 13 | [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 |
| 14 | [Saint Louis Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-louis-community-college) | Bridgeton, MO | 19% | $35,325 | $8,440 | $6,725 | 0.19x |
| 15 | [Mineral Area College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mineral-area-college) | Park Hills, MO | 46% | $35,352 | $12,045 | $10,500 | 0.3x |
| 16 | [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 |
| 17 | [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 |
| 18 | [University of Central Missouri](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-missouri) | Warrensburg, MO | 52% | $49,560 | $14,462 | $21,000 | 0.42x |
| 19 | [Cottey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cottey-college) | Nevada, MO | 59% | $35,422 | $13,805 | $19,043 | 0.54x |
| 20 | [East Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-central-college) | Union, MO | 43% | $36,916 | $13,128 | $9,500 | 0.26x |
| 21 | [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 |
| 22 | [North Central Missouri College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-missouri-college) | Trenton, MO | 57% | $40,837 | $13,626 | $10,500 | 0.26x |
| 23 | [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 |
| 24 | [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 |
| 25 | [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 |
| 26 | [Avila University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/avila-university) | Kansas City, MO | 47% | $52,773 | $16,053 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 27 | [Northwest Missouri State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-missouri-state-university) | Maryville, MO | 56% | $47,885 | $16,244 | $21,500 | 0.45x |
| 28 | [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 |
| 29 | [William Jewell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-jewell-college) | Liberty, MO | 64% | $59,268 | $17,562 | $24,498 | 0.41x |
| 30 | [Missouri Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-valley-college) | Marshall, MO | 23% | $43,221 | $18,086 | $25,950 | 0.6x |
| 31 | [Missouri State University-Springfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/missouri-state-university-springfield) | Springfield, MO | 58% | $49,827 | $17,613 | $21,992 | 0.44x |
| 32 | [Evangel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/evangel-university) | Springfield, MO | 65% | $46,573 | $18,669 | $24,736 | 0.53x |
| 33 | [Lindenwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lindenwood-university) | Saint Charles, MO | 50% | $53,278 | $19,638 | $26,000 | 0.49x |
| 34 | [Ranken Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ranken-technical-college) | Saint Louis, MO | 52% | $55,955 | $18,795 | $12,000 | 0.21x |
| 35 | [Drury University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drury-university) | Springfield, MO | 64% | $40,694 | $20,831 | $20,979 | 0.52x |
| 36 | [University of Missouri-Columbia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia) | Columbia, MO | 76% | $63,403 | $20,268 | $20,500 | 0.32x |
| 37 | [Urshan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/urshan-university) | Wentzville, MO | 49% | N/A | $14,779 | N/A | N/A |
| 38 | [Ozark Christian College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ozark-christian-college) | Joplin, MO | 66% | $41,297 | $20,580 | $16,772 | 0.41x |
| 39 | [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 |
| 40 | [Lincoln University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-university-mo) | Jefferson City, MO | 22% | $39,463 | $19,092 | $28,875 | 0.73x |
| 41 | [Southwest Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwest-baptist-university) | Bolivar, MO | 53% | $43,112 | $21,677 | $20,957 | 0.49x |
| 42 | [Culver-Stockton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/culver-stockton-college) | Canton, MO | 45% | $46,092 | $21,983 | $26,000 | 0.56x |
| 43 | [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 |
| 44 | [Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/park-university) | Parkville, MO | 34% | $56,309 | $21,032 | $21,685 | 0.39x |
| 45 | [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 |
| 46 | [Hannibal-LaGrange University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hannibal-lagrange-university) | Hannibal, MO | 47% | $42,643 | $22,814 | $18,599 | 0.44x |
| 47 | [Stephens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stephens-college) | Columbia, MO | 45% | $43,071 | $23,459 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 48 | [Saint Louis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-louis-university) | Saint Louis, MO | 80% | $70,783 | $24,398 | $25,000 | 0.35x |
| 49 | [Mission University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mission-university) | Springfield, MO | 41% | $38,641 | $21,383 | $26,168 | 0.68x |
| 50 | [Westminster College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westminster-college) | Fulton, MO | 56% | $52,199 | $24,314 | $27,000 | 0.52x |

## 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. "Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-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/.