Colleges where the most freshmen return in Missouri
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Missouri18 schools
18 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
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 a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Ranken Technical College
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#5 in Missouri
- 100% of freshmen return
- 53% graduate
- 2
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Missouri
- 95% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 3
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO · Public#6 in Missouri
- 93% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 4
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Missouri
- 90% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 5
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#4 in Missouri
- 88% of freshmen return
- 80% graduate
- 6
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- 87% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 7
- 8
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- 85% of freshmen return
- 66% graduate
- 9
Drury University
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit#14 in Missouri
- 79% of freshmen return
- 62% graduate
- 10
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- 79% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 11
- 12
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit#21 in Missouri
- 78% of freshmen return
- 58% graduate
- 13
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public#19 in Missouri
- 75% of freshmen return
- 55% graduate
- 14
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit#11 in Missouri
- 74% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 15
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- 69% of freshmen return
- 62% graduate
- 16
- 17
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 50% of freshmen return
- 100% graduate
- 18
Cox College
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 0% of freshmen return
- 100% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranken Technical College | $18,795 | $12,000 | $55,955 | 53% |
| Washington University in St. Louis | $21,786 | $17,500 | $86,182 | 94% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | $20,268 | $20,500 | $63,403 | 75% |
| College of the Ozarks | $6,100 | — | $41,592 | 64% |
| Saint Louis University | $24,398 | $25,000 | $70,783 | 80% |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | $16,298 | $23,250 | $82,957 | 64% |
| Truman State University | $12,780 | $21,000 | $56,280 | 69% |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | $22,066 | $22,000 | $62,105 | 66% |
| Drury University | $20,831 | $20,979 | $40,694 | 62% |
| Rockhurst University | $25,884 | $18,250 | $67,102 | 75% |
| Stephens College | $23,459 | $27,000 | $43,071 | 43% |
| Kansas City Art Institute | $27,650 | $27,000 | $37,032 | 58% |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | $13,310 | $18,750 | $59,637 | 55% |
| William Jewell College | $17,562 | $24,498 | $59,268 | 68% |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | $31,817 | $17,755 | $137,047 | 62% |
| Cottey College | $13,805 | $19,043 | $35,422 | 56% |
| Chamberlain University-Missouri | $30,716 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Cox College | — | $20,000 | $56,867 | 100% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15