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Best colleges in Missouri


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Best colleges in Missouri

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.

While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.

Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Missouri using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school’s appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.



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#25. Park University

– Acceptance rate: 100%
– Net price: $15,470
– Enrollment: 3,763 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C+
— Diversity grade: A
— Dorms grade: A-
— Campus food grade: B+



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#24. Missouri Baptist University

– Acceptance rate: 65%
– Net price: $22,509
– Enrollment: 1,380 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: C+
— Diversity grade: A-
— Campus food grade: A-
— Campus grade: B+



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#23. Southwest Baptist University

– Acceptance rate: 73%
– Net price: $18,202
– Enrollment: 1,593 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: B+
— Safety grade: B+
— Value grade: B



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#22. Southeast Missouri State University

– Acceptance rate: 93%
– Net price: $13,815
– Enrollment: 6,823 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Party grade: A-
— Diversity grade: B+
— Athletics grade: B+



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#21. Fontbonne University

– Acceptance rate: 85%
– Net price: $16,531
– Enrollment: 728 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Location grade: A
— Safety grade: A
— Value grade: A-



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#20. Ozark Christian College

– Acceptance rate: 98%
– Net price: $17,007
– Enrollment: 494 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Value grade: B+
— Campus food grade: B+
— Safety grade: B+



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#19. William Woods University

– Acceptance rate: 63%
– Net price: $25,051
– Enrollment: 692 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Diversity grade: A-
— Dorms grade: B+
— Safety grade: B+



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#18. Northwest Missouri State University

– Acceptance rate: 80%
– Net price: $13,375
– Enrollment: 4,278 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B-
— Athletics grade: A+
— Party grade: A
— Student life grade: A-



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#17. Evangel University

– Acceptance rate: 95%
– Net price: $23,219
– Enrollment: 1,233 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Campus grade: A
— Dorms grade: A-
— Student life grade: A-



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#16. Missouri State University

– Acceptance rate: 87%
– Net price: $16,804
– Enrollment: 13,128 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Party grade: A
— Student life grade: A
— Campus grade: A-



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#15. Webster University

– Acceptance rate: 53%
– Net price: $23,548
– Enrollment: 2,022 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Diversity grade: A-
— Location grade: A-
— Safety grade: B+



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#14. University of Central Missouri

– Acceptance rate: 64%
– Net price: $13,394
– Enrollment: 6,009 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Athletics grade: A
— Party grade: A-
— Student life grade: A-



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#13. Drury University

– Acceptance rate: 71%
– Net price: $19,190
– Enrollment: 1,383 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Diversity grade: A-
— Athletics grade: A-
— Academics grade: B+



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#12. Truman State University

– Acceptance rate: 72%
– Net price: $12,621
– Enrollment: 3,687 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Value grade: A
— Academics grade: B+
— Diversity grade: B+



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#11. Avila University

– Acceptance rate: 42%
– Net price: $18,711
– Enrollment: 915 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B
— Diversity grade: A-
— Value grade: B+
— Location grade: B+



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#10. William Jewell College

– Acceptance rate: 36%
– Net price: $23,039
– Enrollment: 770 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Value grade: A-
— Academics grade: B+
— Diversity grade: B+



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#9. Rockhurst University

– Acceptance rate: 73%
– Net price: $21,518
– Enrollment: 1,845 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Value grade: A
— Location grade: A-
— Student life grade: A-



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#8. University of Missouri – St. Louis

– Acceptance rate: 58%
– Net price: $10,039
– Enrollment: 4,889 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Diversity grade: A
— Value grade: A-
— Academics grade: B+



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#7. Maryville University

– Acceptance rate: 95%
– Net price: $28,087
– Enrollment: 2,640 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Value grade: A
— Campus grade: A
— Location grade: A



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#6. University of Missouri – Kansas City

– Acceptance rate: 63%
– Net price: $16,016
– Enrollment: 6,071 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Location grade: A+
— Diversity grade: A
— Academics grade: A-



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#5. Missouri University of Science and Technology

– Acceptance rate: 81%
– Net price: $13,476
– Enrollment: 5,412 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: B+
— Value grade: A+
— Professors grade: A
— Academics grade: B+



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#4. College of the Ozarks

– Acceptance rate: 14%
– Net price: $7,505
– Enrollment: 1,476 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A-
— Safety grade: A+
— Academics grade: A-
— Value grade: A-



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#3. University of Missouri

– Acceptance rate: 82%
– Net price: $16,930
– Enrollment: 21,344 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A-
— Party grade: A+
— Student life grade: A+
— Campus grade: A



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#2. Saint Louis University

– Acceptance rate: 56%
– Net price: $27,872
– Enrollment: 6,847 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A
— Academics grade: A
— Value grade: A
— Professors grade: A



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#1. Washington University in St. Louis

– Acceptance rate: 16%
– Net price: $27,233
– Enrollment: 7,348 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Overall Niche grade: A+
— Academics grade: A+
— Value grade: A+
— Diversity grade: A+


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