2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Missouri
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts / sciences & humanities programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools to find the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts / sciences & humanities education in Missouri.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Leading the list is Truman State University, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Truman State University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Rockhurst University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Rockhurst University graduates 74% of students within six years. Rockhurst University awarded about 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $70,849. Typical student debt for the program is $24,111.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Northwest Missouri State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,585.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #4. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 111 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $39,992. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Saint Louis Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. About 1,309 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $25,841 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
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St Charles Community College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Cottleville. About 570 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at St Charles Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from St Charles Community College earn around $25,968 in the first couple years of their career. St Charles Community College graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans.
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Avila University placed #7 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Avila University graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Avila University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $51,234 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750.
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University Of Central Missouri earned the #8 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 55 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $36,845. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans.
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Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 59 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $33,014 early in their careers. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $28,371 in student loans.
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Metropolitan Community College Kansas City ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City awarded about 2,586 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn around $28,092 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,911 to complete this degree.
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Southeast Missouri State University placed #11 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Southeast Missouri State University awarded about 65 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Southeast Missouri State University earn around $35,464 in the first couple years of their career. Southeast Missouri State University graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans.
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Hannibal Lagrange College earned the #12 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Hannibal, Hannibal Lagrange College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Hannibal Lagrange College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $43,544 in their early career. Hannibal Lagrange College graduates carry a median of $21,705 in student loans.
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Jefferson College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. About 321 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Jefferson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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 earned the #14 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fulton. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 27 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at William Woods University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from William Woods University earn around $46,635 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,512.
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Crowder College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public institution. Crowder College awarded about 323 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,643 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,752 to complete this degree.
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Columbia College Missouri earned the #16 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. About 387 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Columbia College Missouri in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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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Southwest Baptist University placed #17 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Southwest Baptist University awarded about 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $49,135. Southwest Baptist University graduates carry a median of $24,436 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. University Of Missouri St Louis awarded about 71 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $38,332 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $35,750 to complete this degree.
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East Central College earned the #19 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 269 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at East Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $28,037. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
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Mineral Area College placed #20 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 340 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Mineral Area College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $25,462 in their early career. Mineral Area College graduates carry a median of $8,273 in student loans.
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Moberly Area Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 525 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Moberly Area Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 came in at #22 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Missouri Southern State University earn around $36,783 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Ozarks Technical Community College earned the #23 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. About 495 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,787 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,567.
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Missouri Baptist University placed #24 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 24 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Missouri Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $35,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,154 to complete this degree.
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North Central Missouri College came in at #25 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. About 152 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at North Central Missouri College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from North Central Missouri College earn around $24,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,638.
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Rest of the Top 30 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education:
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 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.
