Best colleges in Missouri
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Missouri53 schools
53 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.
- 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
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 94% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#4 in Missouri
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 80% graduate
- 5
Ranken Technical College
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#5 in Missouri
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 53% graduate
- 6
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · Public#6 in Missouri
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 75% graduate
- 7
- 8
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 64% graduate
- 9
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 100% graduate
- 10
- 11
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit#11 in Missouri
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 68% graduate
- 12
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 75% graduate
- 13
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Cape Girardeau, MO · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 75% graduate
- 14
- 15
Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield, MO · PublicTop 7% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 33% graduate
- 16
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 66% graduate
- 17Tie
- 17Tie
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Public#17 in Missouri
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 57% graduate
- 19
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public#19 in Missouri
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 55% graduate
- 20
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 62% graduate
- 21
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit#21 in Missouri
- Value grade C+
- 58% graduate
- 22
St. Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton
Fenton, MO · Private for-profitTop 11% for low debt
- Value grade C+
- 59% graduate
- 23
- 24
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public#24 in Missouri
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 58% graduate
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3