Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Missouri
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Missouri13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Missouri.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $137,047 ten years out
- 2
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.9 years
- Earnings $82,957 ten years out
- 3
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 2.3 years
- Earnings $86,182 ten years out
- 4
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Pays back in about 2.8 years
- Earnings $92,405 ten years out
- 5
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#4 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $70,783 ten years out
- 6
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public#19 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 4.7 years
- Earnings $59,637 ten years out
- 7
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · Public#6 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 5.4 years
- Earnings $63,403 ten years out
- 8
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Pays back in about 5.5 years
- Earnings $67,102 ten years out
- 9
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Cape Girardeau, MO · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low debt
- Pays back in about 6.2 years
- Earnings $60,918 ten years out
- 10Tie
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Pays back in about 6.4 years
- Earnings $62,105 ten years out
- 10Tie
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit#11 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 6.4 years
- Earnings $59,268 ten years out
- 12
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO · Public#7 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 6.5 years
- Earnings $56,280 ten years out
- 13
Ranken Technical College
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#5 in Missouri
- Pays back in about 9.9 years
- Earnings $55,955 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | $31,817 | $17,755 | $137,047 | 62% |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | $16,298 | $23,250 | $82,957 | 64% |
| Washington University in St. Louis | $21,786 | $17,500 | $86,182 | 94% |
| Chamberlain University-Missouri | $30,716 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Saint Louis University | $24,398 | $25,000 | $70,783 | 80% |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | $13,310 | $18,750 | $59,637 | 55% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | $20,268 | $20,500 | $63,403 | 75% |
| Rockhurst University | $25,884 | $18,250 | $67,102 | 75% |
| Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences | $19,390 | $11,500 | $60,918 | 75% |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | $22,066 | $22,000 | $62,105 | 66% |
| William Jewell College | $17,562 | $24,498 | $59,268 | 68% |
| Truman State University | $12,780 | $21,000 | $56,280 | 69% |
| Ranken Technical College | $18,795 | $12,000 | $55,955 | 53% |
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 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13