by our College Data Analytics TeamWashington University In St Louis ranks #1 of 59 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’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 63% six-year graduation rate and $74,219 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, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **59** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 59 colleges across over 20 objective factors 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 59 ranked colleges in Missouri, followed by University Of Missouri Columbia (#2) and Saint Louis University Main Campus (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Washington University In St Louis this year in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. Washington University In St Louis posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,303. Typical student debt is $17,553.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Missouri. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,134. Graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
Out of the 59 colleges in Missouri in this year's ranking, Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,760. Median early-career earnings reach $65,599. Typical student debt is $26,586.
A rank of #4 makes St Louis College Of Pharmacy one of the top colleges in Missouri. Located in Saint Louis, MO, St Louis College Of Pharmacy is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,550. Early-career graduates earn a median of $111,406.
You'll be in good company at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $74,532. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete a degree here.
Rockhurst University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,849 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,111.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,166. Early-career graduates earn a median of $67,909. Maryville University Of Saint Louis students take on a median of $24,499 in debt.
Truman State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Kirksville, MO, Truman State University is a public institution. Truman State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete a degree here.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #9 among the best colleges in Missouri. This public school is set in Kansas City, MO. University Of Missouri Kansas City posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,324. Graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing landed the #10 spot in Missouri this year. Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,150. Median early-career earnings reach $66,925. Graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans.
William Jewell College placed #11 among the best colleges in Missouri. Set in Liberty, MO, William Jewell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,610. William Jewell College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,588. Students borrow a median of $25,950 to complete a degree here.
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #12 among the best colleges in Missouri. Based in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,079. Typical student debt is $25,943.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,503. The median student debt is $24,408.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #14 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Warrensburg, MO. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,496. University Of Central Missouri students take on a median of $24,304 in debt.
Logan University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Logan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chesterfield, MO. About 22% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,628. Graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
Lindenwood University placed #16 among the best colleges in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Charles, MO. Lindenwood University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $28,663.
Northwest Missouri State University placed #17 among the best colleges in Missouri. Set in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Northwest Missouri State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,939. Typical student debt is $23,585.
Research College Of Nursing ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Kansas City, MO, Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,273. Research College Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $92,404. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Westminster College Missouri landed the #19 spot in Missouri this year. Based in Fulton, MO, Westminster College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution. Westminster College Missouri graduates 56% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,214. Median early-career earnings reach $37,667. The median student debt is $25,335.
Park University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Parkville, MO, Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. Park University posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,116. Median early-career earnings reach $52,616. Typical student debt is $22,112.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a public school based in Cape Girardeau, MO. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,255. Typical student debt is $23,289.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri placed #22 among the best colleges in Missouri. Based in St. Louis, MO, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,680. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. The median student debt is $39,146.
Webster University placed #23 among the best colleges in Missouri. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Median early-career earnings reach $57,152. The median student debt is $25,939.
Cox College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Springfield, MO, Cox College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,822. Median early-career earnings reach $66,360. Typical student debt is $28,794.
Ranken Technical College landed the #25 spot in Missouri this year. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution. Ranken Technical College graduates 31% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $18,008 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,903. Students borrow a median of $13,989 to complete a degree here.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 59 in Missouri. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.
