by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Missouri, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **33** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 33 colleges using more than 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.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Our analysis found Washington University In St Louis to be the best college in Missouri. Based in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. The median student debt is $17,553.
The strong outcomes at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #2 place in Missouri. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Saint Louis University Main Campus earned it the #3 place in Missouri. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set in Saint Louis, MO, St Louis College Of Pharmacy is a private not-for-profit institution. St Louis College Of Pharmacy posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,550. Graduates go on to earn a median of $111,406 early in their careers.
The strong outcomes at Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned it the #5 place in Missouri. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. About 64% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Median early-career earnings reach $74,532. The median student debt is $25,187.
Rockhurst University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,966. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,849. Rockhurst University students take on a median of $24,111 in debt.
Truman State University placed #7 among the best colleges in Missouri. Set in Kirksville, MO, Truman State University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,764. The median student debt is $23,168.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #8 among the best colleges in Missouri. This public school is set in Kansas City, MO. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,324. The median student debt is $23,741.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,909. Typical student debt is $24,499.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,150. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,925. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete a degree here.
William Jewell College placed #11 among the best colleges in Missouri. Located in Liberty, MO, William Jewell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $20,610. Median early-career earnings reach $48,588. Graduates carry a median of $25,950 in student loans.
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #12 among the best colleges in Missouri. Located in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. University Of Missouri St Louis posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,943.
Research College Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $22,273. Median early-career earnings reach $92,404. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #15 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Warrensburg, MO. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,496. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Northwest Missouri State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,939. Typical student debt is $23,585.
Lindenwood University landed the #17 spot in Missouri this year. Located in Saint Charles, MO, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,197. Lindenwood University students take on a median of $28,663 in debt.
Logan University landed the #18 spot in Missouri this year. Logan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chesterfield, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,628. The median student debt is $14,000.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. About 100% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,680. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
Westminster College Missouri landed the #20 spot in Missouri this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fulton, MO. About 56% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,214. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,667 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,335 in student loans.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #21 among the best colleges in Missouri. Located in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Southeast Missouri State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,255. Typical student debt is $23,289.
Park University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Parkville, MO, Park University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,616. Students borrow a median of $22,112 to complete a degree here.
Webster University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Webster University graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,152. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete a degree here.
Cox College placed #24 among the best colleges in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Springfield, MO. Cox College graduates 100% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,822 in tuition and fees. Cox College graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,360. Typical student debt is $28,794.
Fontbonne University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Fontbonne University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Fontbonne University graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,976. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,039. The median student debt is $33,503.
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.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
