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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri

14 Ranked Colleges
1,291 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in Missouri

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across Missouri, there were 10,007 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,115 and $16,130 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,291 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,837 and $25,380 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Missouri

#1

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College landed the #1 spot on the list. Columbia College is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 377 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Columbia College Missouri also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College is $26,730 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Full Columbia College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, Mizzou has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,001 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#3

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeast Missouri State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 172 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeast Missouri State University also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $12,774 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $16,725 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Full Missouri State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #4 spot on the list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 151 students in 2019-2020.

UMKC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $14,643 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UMKC

#6

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 86 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, UCM has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $13,677 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students per year to attend University of Central Missouri.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UCM

Missouri Southern State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Missouri Southern is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Missouri Southern also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern State University is $9,625 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Missouri Southern State University

#8

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #8, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 97 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, UMSL has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $9,435 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Missouri - St Louis

#9

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, Missouri

Lincoln University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking, coming in at #9. Lincoln University is located in Jefferson City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

LU Missouri did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The yearly cost to attend Lincoln University is $7,830 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Full LU Missouri Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Fontbonne University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. This small school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Fontbonne University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The yearly cost to attend Fontbonne University is $15,961 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Fontbonne University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

William Jewell College

Liberty, Missouri

William Jewell College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Located in Liberty, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, William Jewell has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for William Jewell College is $27,316 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full William Jewell College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#12

Cottey College

Nevada, Missouri
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Cottey College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Cottey College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nevada, Missouri. It awarded 1 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Cottey College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cottey College is $18,322 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Cottey College

#13

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #13, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Saint Louis University is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 16 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students list, SLU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $28,188 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students per year to attend Saint Louis University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Saint Louis University

With a ranking of #14, Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 9 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Drury University - CCPS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drury University - CCPS is $13,233 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts students.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Drury University - CCPS

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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