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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in Missouri

14 Ranked Colleges
1,291 Degrees Awarded
$13,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor's in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities 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 / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,837 and $25,380 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in Missouri

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 100 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mizzou has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $10,940 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mizzou.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Mizzou Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#2

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Fontbonne University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

Fontbonne University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fontbonne University is $12,913 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Fontbonne University

#3

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeast Missouri State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 172 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $9,092 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $7,401 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UMSL

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri Southern State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Joplin, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 79 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

Missouri Southern also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $7,882 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri Southern.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Missouri Southern State University

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 151 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,065 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#7

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

University of Central Missouri landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 86 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

UCM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $10,608 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UCM

#8

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#4 in overall quality

Saint Louis University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. It costs about $20,051 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SLU.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 SLU Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#9

William Jewell College

Liberty, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

William Jewell College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. William Jewell is a small school located in Liberty, Missouri that handed out 23 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

William Jewell also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for William Jewell College is $16,989 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full William Jewell College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#10 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 90 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $12,527 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Missouri State Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#11

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, Missouri
#13 in overall quality

Lincoln University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Jefferson City, Missouri, this small public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

LU Missouri also took the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LU Missouri is $4,603 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full LU Missouri Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#12

Cottey College

Nevada, Missouri
#12 in overall quality

Cottey College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cottey College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nevada, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cottey College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. It costs about $17,119 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cottey College.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cottey College

#13

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Columbia College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. 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 / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Columbia College Missouri also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $29,149 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Columbia College

#14 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 9 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Drury University - CCPS also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $12,351 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Drury University - CCPS.

Full Drury University - CCPS Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

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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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