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Best colleges for music in Missouri

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in music, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for music in Missouri30 schools

30 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

  • Schools in Missouri.
  • Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
  • Offers a bachelor’s program in music, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
  • Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
  • Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

  1. 1

    Washington University in St. Louis

    St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll

    #1 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade A- · Top 11%
  2. 2

    College of the Ozarks

    Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll

    #2 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
  3. 3

    Saint Louis University

    Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit

    #4 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 42%
  4. 4

    University of Missouri-Columbia

    Columbia, MO · Public

    #6 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B+ · Top 27%
  5. 5

    Truman State University

    Kirksville, MO · Public

    #7 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade A- · Top 16%
  6. 6

    William Jewell College

    Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit

    #11 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B+ · Top 35%
  7. 7

    Drury University

    Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit

    #14 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B-
  8. 8

    Evangel University

    Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit

    #17 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B-
  9. 8

    University of Missouri-St. Louis

    Saint Louis, MO · Public

    #17 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B+ · Top 25%
  10. 10

    University of Missouri-Kansas City

    Kansas City, MO · Public

    #19 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade A · Top 9%
  11. 11

    Missouri State University-Springfield

    Springfield, MO · Public

    #24 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 45%
  12. 12

    Webster University

    Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit

    #25 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade C+
  13. 13

    Hannibal-LaGrange University

    Hannibal, MO · Private nonprofit

    #26 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B-
  14. 14

    Lindenwood University

    Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit

    #27 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B-
  15. 15

    University of Central Missouri

    Warrensburg, MO · Public

    #28 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B+ · Top 33%
  16. 16

    Northwest Missouri State University

    Maryville, MO · Public

    #29 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 43%
  17. 17

    Southwest Baptist University

    Bolivar, MO · Private nonprofit

    #31 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B-
  18. 18

    Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Fayette, MO · Private nonprofit

    Top 25% for low debt

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B
  19. 19

    Southeast Missouri State University

    Cape Girardeau, MO · Public

    #34 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 50%
  20. 20

    Calvary University

    Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit

    #35 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 47%
  21. 21

    Columbia College

    Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit

    #38 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade C+
  22. 22

    Avila University

    Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit

    #40 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 42%
  23. 23

    Missouri Western State University

    Saint Joseph, MO · Public

    #43 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 41%
  24. 23

    Park University

    Parkville, MO · Private nonprofit

    #43 in Missouri

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B · Top 44%
  25. 25

    Missouri Southern State University

    Joplin, MO · Public

    Top 21% for low net price

    • Bachelor’s program in music
    • Value grade B+ · Top 34%

Compare cost and outcomes

SchoolNet price a yearMedian debtEarnings 10 years outGraduation rate
Washington University in St. Louis$21,786$17,500$86,18294%
College of the Ozarks$6,100—$41,59264%
Saint Louis University$24,398$25,000$70,78380%
University of Missouri-Columbia$20,268$20,500$63,40375%
Truman State University$12,780$21,000$56,28069%
William Jewell College$17,562$24,498$59,26868%
Drury University$20,831$20,979$40,69462%
Evangel University$18,669$24,736$46,57365%
University of Missouri-St. Louis$15,071$20,000$53,03757%
University of Missouri-Kansas City$13,310$18,750$59,63755%
Missouri State University-Springfield$17,613$21,992$49,82758%
Webster University$27,047$23,000$50,87664%
Hannibal-LaGrange University$22,814$18,599$42,64350%
Lindenwood University$19,638$26,000$53,27849%
University of Central Missouri$14,462$21,000$49,56054%
Northwest Missouri State University$16,244$21,500$47,88554%
Southwest Baptist University$21,677$20,957$43,11255%
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences$22,766$17,619$48,99151%
Southeast Missouri State University$15,882$21,500$44,03058%
Calvary University$16,334$20,839$45,42152%
Columbia College$22,715$23,879$45,37842%
Avila University$16,053$25,000$52,77352%
Missouri Western State University$13,251$19,968$42,64739%
Park University$21,032$21,685$56,30938%
Missouri Southern State University$12,007$19,174$42,62042%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

This list in other states

The national list → · All top school lists →

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