by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Missouri, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked 123 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated graduate schools 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.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
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Explore the leading graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Washington University In St Louis this year in Missouri. Based 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. 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. The median student debt is $21,818.
St Louis College Of Pharmacy came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,550. Median early-career earnings reach $111,406.
The strong outcomes at Saint Louis University Main Campus earned it the #4 place in Missouri. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,599. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 123 graduate schools 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. Missouri University Of Science And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,187.
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. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $70,849. The median student debt is $24,111.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences came in at #7 in this year's ranking. A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Kirksville, MO. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,586 early in their careers.
Concordia Seminary came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Concordia Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $95,127.
Linn State Technical College landed the #9 spot in Missouri this year. Linn State Technical College is a public school based in Linn, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Linn State Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,538. The median student debt is $11,042.
Truman State University landed the #10 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Kirksville, MO. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,764. Typical student debt is $23,168.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. Maryville University Of Saint Louis posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Early-career graduates earn a median of $67,909. The median student debt is $24,499.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Kansas City, MO, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete a degree here.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,150. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,925. The median student debt is $27,750.
William Jewell College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Liberty, MO, William Jewell College is a private not-for-profit institution. William Jewell College graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,610. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,588. Typical student debt is $25,950.
University Of Central Missouri placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Located in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,496. Graduates carry a median of $24,304 in student loans.
University Of Missouri St Louis did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,079 early in their careers. University Of Missouri St Louis students take on a median of $25,943 in debt.
Ranken Technical College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution. Ranken Technical College posts a six-year graduation rate of 31%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,008. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,903. Typical student debt is $13,989.
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. Missouri State University Springfield posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Median early-career earnings reach $46,503. Typical student debt is $24,408.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Northwest Missouri State University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,585.
Research College Of Nursing placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit school based in Kansas City, MO. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,273. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $92,404. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences landed the #21 spot in Missouri this year. Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Kansas City, MO. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,286.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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 run about $11,530. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,308. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary students take on a median of $15,559 in debt.
Logan University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Chesterfield, MO, Logan University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 22% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,000 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,628 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $14,000.
Lindenwood University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Saint Charles, MO, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lindenwood University graduates 49% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Lindenwood University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,197. Graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans.
Webster University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Webster University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. 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.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 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.
