2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri
Fortunately, colleges have stepped up their offerings to non-traditional students. However, that can mean decision-fatigue for the typical busy student. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can to make the best decision possible for you.
Our analysis looked at 49 schools in Missouri to determine which ones were the best for adult learners and other students who are considered non-traditional. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include degree completion, post-graduate earnings, and distance-learning options, among other things.
If you fall into the category of non-traditional, you are a part-time student, a returning or transfer student, or older than 24. We designed this ranking to meet your unique needs.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Top Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Lindenwood University to be the best school for non-traditional students in Missouri in this year’s ranking. Lindenwood University is located in Saint Charles, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 1,829 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $495 per credit hour. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Lindenwood University is $41,300 during the early years of their career.
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Adult learners and other non-traditional students will be in good company if they decide to attend Webster University. It ranked #2 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 724 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $725. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Webster is $42,300 during the early years of their career.
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A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges For Non-Traditional Students in Missouri list means University of Missouri - Columbia is a great place for adult learners and/or non-traditional students working on their bachelor’s degree. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,314 students in 2018-2019.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school charges $304 per credit hour for part-time students in-state. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Mizzou is $48,300 during the early years of their career.
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One of the best schools for adult learners and other non-traditional students is William Woods University. The school came in at #4 in Missouri in this year’s ranking. Fulton, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 218 students in 2018-2019.
As an adult learner you’ll be in good company. 61% of the school is older than 24. The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $425. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to earn average salaries of $36,500 a year.
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Out of the 49 schools in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking of the best schools for adult learners and non-traditional students, University of Central Missouri landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 2,021 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $268 per credit hour. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UCM make an average of $38,000 per year during the early years of their career.
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Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #6. Maryville U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 616 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $781. During the early years of their career, graduates from Maryville U make an average of $47,200 a year.
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Ranken Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking. Ranken Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 55 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $611. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to earn average salaries of $48,400 a year.
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Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,388 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $304. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology go into careers with an average salary of $71,200 during the early years of their career.
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State Technical College of Missouri came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking.
The school charges $175 per credit hour for part-time students in-state. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from STC is $39,900 during the early years of their career.
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Columbia College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 2,323 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $340 per credit hour. During the early years of their career, graduates from Columbia College Missouri make an average of $38,300 a year.
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Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Springfield, Missouri, the large public school awarded 3,756 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $218 per credit hour. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State go into careers with an average salary of $39,300 during the early years of their career.
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Evangel University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri list. Evangel University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 372 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
As an adult learner you’ll be in good company. 27% of the school is older than 24. Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $960 per credit hour. During the early years of their career, graduates from Evangel make an average of $35,800 a year.
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With a ranking of #13, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri list. Saint Louis University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 1,867 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
There are 3,834 adult students enrolled in the school, which is 32% of the student body. The school charges $1,560 per credit hour for part-time students in-state. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SLU go into careers with an average salary of $56,500 during the early years of their career.
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Avila University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #14. Avila is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 256 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $778 per credit hour. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to earn average salaries of $44,100 a year.
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With a ranking of #15, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri list. Maryville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,101 students in 2018-2019.
The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $343. During the early years of their career, graduates from Northwest make an average of $40,000 a year.
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Park University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #16. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 1,797 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $333. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Park University is $45,900 during the early years of their career.
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Fontbonne University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #17. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 251 students in 2018-2019.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school charges $715 per credit hour for part-time students in-state. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne University go into careers with an average salary of $40,800 during the early years of their career.
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Rockhurst University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 463 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
The school has an excellent part-time retention rate of 100%, which means part-time students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $1,260. During the early years of their career, graduates from Rockhurst make an average of $50,800 a year.
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University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,921 students in 2018-2019.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $369 per credit hour. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UMSL make an average of $42,900 per year during the early years of their career.
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Missouri Baptist University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #20. MBU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 496 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $929. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from MBU go into careers with an average salary of $35,600 during the early years of their career.
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University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 1,827 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $300. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UMKC is $45,700 during the early years of their career.
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Truman State University landed the #22 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,216 students in 2018-2019.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school charges $325 per credit hour for part-time students in-state. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Truman State is $44,500 during the early years of their career.
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Hannibal - LaGrange University landed the #23 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking. Hannibal, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 156 students in 2018-2019.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $741 per credit hour. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to earn average salaries of $34,300 a year.
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Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 1,711 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
The per credit hour charge for part-time students in state is $220. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University go into careers with an average salary of $37,000 during the early years of their career.
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Stephens College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Missouri ranking, coming in at #25. Stephens is located in Columbia, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 151 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Part-time students in-state can expect to be charged $675 per credit hour. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to earn average salaries of $33,900 a year.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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