2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Missouri
Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts education in Missouri.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
Our analysis ranked Truman State University the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Kirksville. About 68% of students finish within six years. Truman State University awarded about 11 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Truman State University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete this degree.
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Rockhurst University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rockhurst University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $70,849 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,111 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. About 110 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $39,992 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Saint Louis Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgeton. There were roughly 1,309 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Saint Louis Community College earn around $25,841 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Saint Louis Community College
Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at St Charles Community College, which ranked #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Cottleville. There were roughly 570 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at St Charles Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $25,968. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500.
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Missouri State University Springfield earned the #6 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 59 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $33,014 in their early career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $28,371 in student loans.
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Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. There were roughly 2,586 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $28,092 early in their careers. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City graduates carry a median of $8,911 in student loans.
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Jefferson College came in at #8 for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. About 321 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Jefferson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $24,813. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
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William Woods University came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Fulton, William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at William Woods University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $46,635 in their early career. William Woods University graduates carry a median of $25,512 in student loans.
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Columbia College Missouri earned the #10 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Columbia College Missouri graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Missouri in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Columbia College Missouri earn around $46,366 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia College Missouri graduates carry a median of $23,309 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 71 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $38,332. Students borrow a median of $35,750 to complete this degree.
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Mineral Area College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public institution. Mineral Area College awarded about 335 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Mineral Area College earn around $25,462 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,273.
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Moberly Area Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Moberly. There were roughly 525 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Moberly Area Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Moberly Area Community College earn a median of $26,306 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,993 to complete this degree.
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Missouri Southern State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Missouri Southern State University graduates 40% of students within six years. About 62 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $36,783 in their early career. Missouri Southern State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Missouri Southern State University
North Central Missouri College placed #15 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. North Central Missouri College awarded about 141 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from North Central Missouri College earn around $24,483 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,638 to complete this degree.
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Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff earned the #16 position for liberal arts this year. Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Poplar Bluff. There were roughly 217 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $28,750 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,957.
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State Fair Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. State Fair Community College awarded about 331 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from State Fair Community College earn around $26,386 in the first couple years of their career. State Fair Community College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
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Harris Stowe State University came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Harris Stowe State University is a small public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. About 27 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Harris Stowe State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $31,173 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,394 to complete this degree.
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More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
