by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/business-commerce-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general business/commerce students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general business/commerce degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked College Of The Ozarks the best value for a degree in general business/commerce in Missouri. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,360. General Business/commerce graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $37,944 early in their careers. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Jefferson College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $47,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri State University West Plains is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Plains. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,936, with out-of-state students paying around $8,106. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $42,523. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $20,737 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $44,262. Set against $20,737 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $21,853 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $71,045. Set against $21,853 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #6 spot for general business/commerce value this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,538 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $68,451. That is a strong return on a $21,538 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
North Central Missouri College came in at #7 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,370 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $40,934. That is a strong return on a $16,685 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,500. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $22,732. General Business/commerce graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earn a median of $39,435 early in their careers. Set against $22,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Avila University earned the #9 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,200. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $32,750. General Business/commerce graduates of Avila University earn a median of $47,530 early in their careers. Set against $32,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #10 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $43,364. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Lindenwood University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $59,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $71,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #13 among the best values for general business/commerce. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,499. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $74,676. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Columbia College Missouri placed #14 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,276. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $27,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri generally make around $53,715. That is a strong return on a $27,999 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences came in at #15 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $28,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,732 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $39,435. That is a strong return on a $22,732 median debt. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences admits about 57% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $65,599. That is a strong return on a $26,586 median debt. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.