Best colleges for art and design in Missouri
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in Missouri32 schools
32 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 art or design, 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
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 2
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- 3
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#4 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 4
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · Public#6 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 5
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO · Public#7 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 6
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit#11 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 7
Drury University
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit#14 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 8
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 9Tie
Evangel University
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit#17 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 9Tie
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Public#17 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 11
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public#19 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 12
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit#21 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 13
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public#24 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 14
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#25 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 15
Hannibal-LaGrange University
Hannibal, MO · Private nonprofit#26 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 16
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit#27 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 17
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO · Public#28 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 18
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO · Public#29 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 19
Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, MO · Private nonprofit#31 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 20
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO · Public#34 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 21
Columbia College
Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit#38 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 22
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofitTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 23
Avila University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit#40 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 24
Stephens College
Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit#41 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 25
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO · Public#43 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 41%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington University in St. Louis | About $22,000 | $17,500 | $86,182 | 94% |
| College of the Ozarks | About $6,000 | — | $41,592 | 64% |
| Saint Louis University | About $24,000 | $25,000 | $70,783 | 80% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | About $20,000 | $20,500 | $63,403 | 75% |
| Truman State University | About $13,000 | $21,000 | $56,280 | 69% |
| William Jewell College | About $18,000 | $24,498 | $59,268 | 68% |
| Drury University | About $21,000 | $20,979 | $40,694 | 62% |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | About $22,000 | $22,000 | $62,105 | 66% |
| Evangel University | About $19,000 | $24,736 | $46,573 | 65% |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis | About $15,000 | $20,000 | $53,037 | 57% |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | About $13,000 | $18,750 | $59,637 | 55% |
| Kansas City Art Institute | About $28,000 | $27,000 | $37,032 | 58% |
| Missouri State University-Springfield | About $18,000 | $21,992 | $49,827 | 58% |
| Webster University | About $27,000 | $23,000 | $50,876 | 64% |
| Hannibal-LaGrange University | About $23,000 | $18,599 | $42,643 | 50% |
| Lindenwood University | About $20,000 | $26,000 | $53,278 | 49% |
| University of Central Missouri | About $14,000 | $21,000 | $49,560 | 54% |
| Northwest Missouri State University | About $16,000 | $21,500 | $47,885 | 54% |
| Southwest Baptist University | About $22,000 | $20,957 | $43,112 | 55% |
| Southeast Missouri State University | About $16,000 | $21,500 | $44,030 | 58% |
| Columbia College | About $23,000 | $23,879 | $45,378 | 42% |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | About $11,000 | $20,979 | $40,694 | 43% |
| Avila University | About $16,000 | $25,000 | $52,773 | 52% |
| Stephens College | About $23,000 | $27,000 | $43,071 | 43% |
| Missouri Western State University | About $13,000 | $19,968 | $42,647 | 39% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 17
- California 75
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 26
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 27
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29