by our College Data Analytics TeamWashington University In St Louis ranks #1 of 45 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Missouri ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 55% six-year graduation rate and $56,832 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Missouri, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **45** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 45 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Washington University In St Louis leads the 45 ranked colleges in Missouri, followed by Rockhurst University (#2) and Linn State Technical College (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Washington University In St Louis earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Missouri. Located in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Median early-career earnings reach $68,303. Graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
Rockhurst University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,966. Median early-career earnings reach $70,849. Typical student debt is $24,111.
A rank of #3 makes Linn State Technical College one of the top colleges in Missouri. Set in Linn, MO, Linn State Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,610. Linn State Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,538. The median student debt is $11,042.
A rank of #4 makes Ranken Technical College one of the top colleges in Missouri. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution. Ranken Technical College graduates 31% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,008. Ranken Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,903. The median student debt is $13,989.
Out of the 45 colleges in Missouri in this year's ranking, Park University landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Parkville, MO. Park University graduates 37% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,616 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,112 in student loans.
Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,064 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $67,421. Graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
Cox College landed the #7 spot in Missouri this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Springfield, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. Students from in state pay about $14,822 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,360. Graduates carry a median of $28,794 in student loans.
St Charles Community College landed the #8 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Cottleville, MO. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,228. Graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City landed the #9 spot in Missouri this year. Located in Kansas City, MO, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,660. Typical student debt is $12,281.
Saint Louis Community College placed #10 among the best colleges in Missouri. Saint Louis Community College is a public school based in Bridgeton, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Median early-career earnings reach $38,999. Typical student debt is $11,424.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #11 among the best colleges in Missouri. Set in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,255. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete a degree here.
William Woods University placed #12 among the best colleges in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fulton, MO. About 46% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,340. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,635. The median student debt is $25,512.
Missouri Baptist University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Missouri Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,122. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,270. Graduates carry a median of $27,337 in student loans.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Fayette, MO, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,500. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,316. Typical student debt is $25,033.
Missouri Southern State University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Joplin, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,434. Missouri Southern State University students take on a median of $22,241 in debt.
Columbia College Missouri ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Columbia, MO, Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,276. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,962. Graduates carry a median of $29,213 in student loans.
Crowder College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Neosho, MO, Crowder College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,784. Early-career graduates earn a median of $33,869. Crowder College students take on a median of $9,887 in debt.
Southwest Baptist University landed the #18 spot in Missouri this year. Located in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,566. Median early-career earnings reach $49,135. Typical student debt is $24,436.
Jefferson College placed #19 among the best colleges in Missouri. This public school is set in Hillsboro, MO. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Jefferson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,560. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete a degree here.
North Central Missouri College landed the #20 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Trenton, MO. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,934. Typical student debt is $16,685.
Missouri Western State University placed #21 among the best colleges in Missouri. Located in Saint Joseph, MO, Missouri Western State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,545, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Missouri Western State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,107. Typical student debt is $24,362.
Evangel University James River Assembly Of God Church ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Ozark, MO, Evangel University James River Assembly Of God Church is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,080. The median student debt is $12,000.
Moberly Area Community College placed #23 among the best colleges in Missouri. Based in Moberly, MO, Moberly Area Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $8,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,755 early in their careers. Moberly Area Community College students take on a median of $12,507 in debt.
East Central College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Union, MO, East Central College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,272, with out-of-state students paying around $7,680. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,925. Graduates carry a median of $12,062 in student loans.
Mineral Area College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Mineral Area College is a public school based in Park Hills, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,570. Median early-career earnings reach $46,535. Mineral Area College students take on a median of $11,175 in debt.
These 20 colleges rank #26 through #45 of 45 in Missouri. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.