Missouri occupies a unique position in American higher education — a state with extraordinary institutional diversity, from Washington University in St. Louis, one of the top 15 universities in the world with a $15 billion endowment, to the University of Missouri (Mizzou), one of the first journalism schools in the world, to the creative and innovative Webster University and Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Missouri’s educational range is simply remarkable.
Best Universities in Missouri 2026
Lincoln University of Missouri
Location: Jefferson City | Type: Public | Founded: 1866 | Tuition: $7,488/yr
Lincoln University of Missouri is a public HBCU founded in 1866 in Jefferson City — established by Black Civil War veterans of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry regiments who pooled their own money to create a college for freed people. One of…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Business & Finance, Education, Liberal Arts
Drury University
Location: Springfield | Type: Private | Founded: 1873 | Tuition: $26,000/yr
Drury University is a private liberal arts university founded in 1873 in Springfield, Missouri. Consistently ranked among the top regional universities in the Midwest, Drury enrolls 5,000 students and is particularly known for the Hammons School of Architecture (one of the top regional architecture programs…
Programs: Architecture, Arts & Design, Business & Finance, Education
Westminster College
Location: Fulton | Type: Private | Founded: 1851 | Tuition: $24,110/yr
rural
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Social Work & Humanities
University of Missouri Kansas City
Location: Kansas City | Type: Public | Founded: 1929 | Tuition: $11,624/yr
The University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) is a public research university founded in 1929 in Kansas City. Enrolling 16,000 students in the heart of one of America’s most vibrant cities, UMKC is known for law, medicine (School of Medicine), dentistry, pharmacy, and business programs….
Programs: Business & Finance, Law, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences
College of the Ozarks
Location: Point Lookout | Type: Private | Founded: 1906 | Tuition: $600/yr
College of the Ozarks is a private Christian liberal arts college founded in 1906 in Point Lookout, Missouri, near Branson. Known as “Hard Work U,” the College of the Ozarks provides tuition-free education to every student who qualifies financially — in exchange, each student works…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Social Work & Humanities
Missouri State University
Location: Springfield | Type: Public | Founded: 1905 | Tuition: $8,118/yr
Missouri State University is a public university founded in 1905 in Springfield, Missouri — the Queen City of the Ozarks. Enrolling 23,000 students, Missouri State is known for business (College of Business — AACSB-accredited), education, nursing, agriculture, and public affairs programs. Colleges College of Business…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Business & Finance, Education, Liberal Arts
Saint Louis University
Location: St. Louis | Type: Private | Founded: 1818 | Tuition: $47,040/yr
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit Catholic research university founded in 1818 in St. Louis — the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. Enrolling 13,000 students, SLU is known for public health (College for Public Health and Social Justice — consistently top-ranked),…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Aviation, Business & Finance, Engineering
Truman State University
Location: Kirksville | Type: Public | Founded: 1867 | Tuition: $8,000/yr
Truman State University is a public liberal arts university founded in 1867 in Kirksville, Missouri — Missouri’s only public liberal arts and sciences university. Consistently ranked #1 among Midwest regional universities by US News & World Report, Truman enrolls 4,500 students and is known for…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Arts & Design, Business & Finance, Education
Top Community Colleges in Missouri 2026
Community colleges in Missouri provide affordable pathways with transfer agreements to major state universities.
- Ozarks Technical Community College — Springfield
- St. Charles Community College — Cottleville
- St. Louis Community College — St. Louis
- Metropolitan Community College — Kansas City
How to Choose a University in Missouri
Consider your major, tuition, accreditations, location, and career outcomes. Compare financial aid packages and visit campuses.
- Tuition: Compare in-state vs out-of-state rates and financial aid generosity.
- Accreditation: AACSB (business), ABET (engineering), CCNE (nursing).
- Location: Proximity to employers and internship opportunities.
- Campus Culture: Visit open days to find the right environment.
Missouri’s central location at the Gateway to the West, combined with its growing tech scenes in St. Louis and Kansas City, creates strong career opportunities across healthcare, agribusiness, manufacturing, and financial services. Washington University’s medical school and its partnerships with BJC HealthCare make St. Louis a national biomedical research powerhouse.
Browse our complete Missouri university directory.
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