by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Missouri, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **48** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 48 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.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Washington University In St Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,303. Graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #2 place in Missouri. Set in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,134. University Of Missouri Columbia students take on a median of $21,818 in debt.
St Louis College Of Pharmacy came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking 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%. In-state tuition and fees average $32,550. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $111,406.
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Missouri. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,760. Median early-career earnings reach $65,599. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 48 colleges in Missouri in this year's ranking, Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #5 spot. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school based in Rolla, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Median early-career earnings reach $74,532. Missouri University Of Science And Technology students take on a median of $25,187 in debt.
Rockhurst University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit school based in Kansas City, MO. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $44,966. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,849. Graduates carry a median of $24,111 in student loans.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Kirksville, MO, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,586.
Concordia Seminary placed #8 among the best colleges in Missouri. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Concordia Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $95,127.
Linn State Technical College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Linn, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,538. The median student debt is $11,042.
Truman State University placed #10 among the best colleges in Missouri. Based in Kirksville, MO, Truman State University is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,764. Truman State University students take on a median of $23,168 in debt.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #11 spot in Missouri this year. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,909. Graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #12 among the best colleges in Missouri. Set in Kansas City, MO, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,324. The median student debt is $23,741.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing landed the #13 spot in Missouri this year. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,150. Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,925. The median student debt is $27,750.
William Jewell College placed #14 among the best colleges in Missouri. William Jewell College is a private not-for-profit school based in Liberty, MO. William Jewell College posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,610. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,588. Students borrow a median of $25,950 to complete a degree here.
University Of Central Missouri placed #15 among the best colleges in Missouri. Set in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,496. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete a degree here.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #16 in this year's ranking. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school based in Saint Louis, MO. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,079. The median student debt is $25,943.
Ranken Technical College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. About 31% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,008. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,903. Ranken Technical College students take on a median of $13,989 in debt.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school based in Springfield, MO. About 58% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Missouri State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Northwest Missouri State University is a public school based in Maryville, MO. Northwest Missouri State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Northwest Missouri State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,939. Graduates carry a median of $23,585 in student loans.
Research College Of Nursing placed #20 among the best colleges in Missouri. Located in Kansas City, MO, Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,273. Research College Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $92,404. Research College Of Nursing students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Kansas City, MO, Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,286 early in their careers.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,530. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,308. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete a degree here.
Logan University placed #23 among the best colleges in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chesterfield, MO. Logan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 22%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,000. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,628. Typical student debt is $14,000.
Lindenwood University placed #24 among the best colleges in Missouri. Based in Saint Charles, MO, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lindenwood University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,197. Lindenwood University students take on a median of $28,663 in debt.
Webster University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,152. Graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
