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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Missouri

14 Ranked Colleges
1,291 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 / Sciences & Humanities 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 / 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs, but they also cost less that 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 the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri

The colleges and universities below are the best for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Missouri

#1

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Columbia College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 377 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College is $26,730 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full Columbia College Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 100 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,001 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Missouri - Columbia

#3

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Missouri State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. This fairly large school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 172 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 list, Southeast Missouri State University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $12,774 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

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

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Kansas City. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 151 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. It costs about $14,643 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend UMKC.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UMKC

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri State University - Springfield. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. 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.

Missouri State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

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

#6

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking, coming in at #6. UCM is located in Warrensburg, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

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 estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $13,677 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Central Missouri

#11 in overall quality

Missouri Southern State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Missouri Southern is a medium-sized school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 79 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri Southern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. It costs about $9,625 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend Missouri Southern.

Full Missouri Southern Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#8

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s 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 estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $9,435 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full UMSL Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#9

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, Missouri
#13 in overall quality

Lincoln University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. LU Missouri is a small school located in Jefferson City, Missouri that handed out 12 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 list, LU Missouri has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LU Missouri is $7,830 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Full LU Missouri Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#10

Fontbonne University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

Fontbonne University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, Fontbonne University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fontbonne University is $15,961 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#11

William Jewell College

Liberty, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

William Jewell College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Located in Liberty, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

William Jewell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for William Jewell is $27,316 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full William Jewell Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#12

Cottey College

Nevada, Missouri
#12 in overall quality

Cottey College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri list. Located in Nevada, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cottey College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cottey College is $18,322 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

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 full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Cottey College

#13

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#4 in overall quality

Saint Louis University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Saint Louis University is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 16 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis University is $28,188 for missouri bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full SLU Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#14 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Missouri ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University - CCPS, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Drury University - CCPS is $13,233 for Missouri Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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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