Colleges in Missouri
Why go to College in Missouri?
The state of Missouri offers a variety of higher education programs with a system of schools that serve approximately 450,000 students. The state has 10 public, four-year colleges and universities spread out among 13 campuses. There are also 25 private colleges, 14 two-year institutions, and 150 private career schools. Students from all over the country are able to attend these institutions by enrolling on-campus and/or online. State initiatives have also been passed to increase the number of students enrolled in higher education classes. For example, Missouri's Big Goal is to have 60% of the state's population complete some form of postsecondary education by 2025. Additionally, the 15 to Finish initiative encourages students to take 15 credits per semester, either on campus or through an online school in Missouri, to graduate on time with a two-year or four-year degree.
What Options are Available for Colleges in Missouri?
On-Campus
On-campuses classes are still the most popular form of education. This type of instruction employs multi-sensory teaching techniques where students listen to the instructor, participate in discussions, and interact with peers in real time. While many online colleges in Missouri offer synchronous online programming, where students can obtain a similar experience, many students prefer learning in a classroom because it is easier to remain focused and manage their time efficiently.
Furthermore, being a college student on campus provides you with access to extracurricular activities and living experiences that may not be available to distance learners. While it is typically more expensive to study on campus, due to additional fees, rent, and other expenses, many students believe that this is a worthwhile investment.
Online Programs
Online colleges in Missouri offer students greater affordability and the flexibility to learn at a distance by engaging in coursework that is accessible over the internet. Schools typically use a learning management system, such as Blackboard or Canvas, to deliver coursework either asynchronously (with no set times for classes), synchronously (with established times when students must log on and "attend" class), or through a hybrid format that blends the two styles.
Some traits, such as good time-management skills and being self-motivated, are especially necessary for online learners; students must access classes and materials without being prompted and complete projects by established deadlines. Online programs are particularly well-suited for nontraditional learners who would benefit from less travel, lower tuition rates, and increased flexibility, allowing them to better manage their family, career, and school obligations.
Hybrid Programs
Hybrid programs are online courses that blend face-to-face and web-based learning. Online colleges in Missouri offer hybrid programs that feature between 25% and 85% online coursework, with the remainder of time spent on campus in a face-to-face learning environment. Similar to fully-online programs, the online portions of hybrid courses may be delivered asynchronously or synchronously.
The main appeal of hybrid programming is that it offers the benefits of both online and on-campus programs: increased flexibility and the social and instructional benefits of face-to-face learning. Some programs are more likely to require hybrid learning. For instance, students pursuing a degree that features lab classes may find that, although they can do most of their studying online, they must attend campus for laboratory exercises and research.
Popular Degree Programs in Missouri
Every state in the nation specializes in its own blend of industries to produce the goods and services that are needed at the local, regional, and national level. Students often gravitate toward degrees that help them land jobs within these in-demand fields. The most popular majors in Missouri reflect the top industries and employers in the state, including manufacturing and administrative support services; Missouri is also home to several Fortune 1000 companies.
Business management and administration A degree in business management and administration teaches students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a number of administrative and managerial positions in Missouri. Regardless of the industry, organizations need qualified people for roles in accounting, marketing, and human resources; these are all key areas of study covered in this type of program.
Social psychology The social psychology major is also popular in the state. Graduates are provided with a keen understanding of human behavior and social interaction. The ability to understand people and understand their behavior leads to success in a wide range of careers, including sales, marketing, and community relations.
What are the Best Online Colleges in Missouri?
The flexibility provided by online colleges in Missouri gives students the ability to juggle work, family, and career obligations, while also saving on tuition. Because tuition costs at public four-year institutions in Missouri sit below the national average, these schools continue to be attractive to prospective students. This section provides learners with a ranking of the best online schools in Missouri. This list was devised using a rigorous methodology and is an excellent resource to help students determine which colleges are best-suited to fit their educational goals.
Top 25 Colleges in Missouri for 2019
Admissions Rate
72%
Graduation Rate
71%
Online Enrollment
44%
Retention Rate
89%
Default Rate
5%
Located in St. Louis, Maryville University offers four online undergraduate degree programs and 11 online graduate programs. MU is known for its cyber security program, which is available in both bachelor's and master's degree options.
Applicants must have a high school diploma with a GPA of at least 2.5 and must have completed several high school-level prerequisite courses. Transfer students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.0 and may apply up to 68 previous credits toward their bachelor's degree at MU.
MU is one of the most popular online colleges in Missouri and charges the same tuition for online and in-person courses. However, distance learners can save money on transportation and housing costs.
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What are the Best Online Community Colleges in Missouri?
Two-year and community colleges are committed to open access, giving students from all backgrounds the opportunity to earn a postsecondary credential, such as an associate degree. They also provide many students with a less expensive way to complete the first two years of a four-year degree; this can often be done online. Tuition at two-year institutions tends to be significantly less expensive than it is at four-year schools.
This section gives students a ranking of the best online community colleges in Missouri. It was devised by accounting for a range of variables, from tuition to retention rate, and can help students determine which online schools in Missouri meet their academic and financial needs.
Top 6 Online Community Colleges in Missouri for 2019
Graduation Rate
37%
Online Enrollment
23%
Retention Rate
54%
Default Rate
20%
Located in Trenton, NCMC operates extended campuses in Maryville, Bethany, and North Belt Center. The school also maintains a 100-acre agricultural campus one mile from Trenton. NCMC provides a variety of applied associate degrees and transfer programs. Its fully online degrees include behavioral health support, nursing, criminal justice, early childhood education, and accounting. Students in the business and technology programs can choose a concentration in either management or technology. A general associate of arts is also available.
Applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores. If these scores are more than two years old, students should take the NCMC Compass placement test. Nursing students may pay additional fees due to nursing and lab requirements. The nursing program receives accreditation from the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
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How We Ranked the Schools
To determine the best programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in management information systems programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.
Education Trends in Missouri
The amount of spending on higher education in Missouri is lower than the national average. Altogether, 34.5% of the state's residents over the age of 25 have postsecondary credentials. 18.5% of individuals have a baccalaureate degree, while 11.2% have a graduate degree, and 8.1% have an associate degree.
| Missouri | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Spending per Full-Time Student | $6,102 | $6,954 |
| Percent of Tax Revenue Allocated to Higher Education | 5.1% | 5.8% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with associate degree | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with bachelor's degree | 16.9% | 18.5% |
| Percentage of adults over 25 with graduate degree or higher | 10.2% | 11.2% |
| Source: SHEEO and U.S. Census | ||
Paying for College in Missouri
According to the College Board , the cost of postsecondary education in the U.S. for the 2016-17 school year increased relative to the year before; finding ways to earn a good education at an affordable price continues to be a challenge. This section provides information about the options available to help pay for college and avoid graduating with a crippling amount of debt.
Tuition Prices
The table below provides the average costs of tuition at two- and four-year institutions in Missouri. Fortunately, tuition at the state's colleges remains below the national average. Note that these tuition numbers do not reflect the cost of additional expenses such as books, transportation, rent, and additional fees.
Financial Aid
A college education is an investment in one's future, but many students and their families require assistance in paying for tuition. Every state offers students financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans. Financial aid can be need-based or merit-based.
Scholarships are merit-based and do not have to be repaid. They may be provided by the state, the college (i.e., institutional scholarships), or by private organizations or businesses.
Grants are need-based and do not have to be repaid. These mitigate the cost of education and often take into account a student's ability to afford tuition.
Loans must be repaid and can be issued by the federal government or by a private institution such as Sallie Mae.
It is in a student's best interest to first seek out forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid in order to mitigate their debt burden. Before they can apply for financial aid, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines their eligibility for assistance.
Cost for Online Programs in Missouri
Once students have secured financial aid by filling out the FAFSA, the funds they receive may be used to pay tuition at online colleges in Missouri. While the tuition rates may be similar for on-campus and online schools in Missouri, distance learning tends to be less expensive. On-campus programs typically require students to pay additional fees, rent, transportation, child care, and other expenses. Alternatively, students studying from a distance do not incur all of these expenses; enrolling at an online college in Missouri can lead to significant savings.
Cost of Living by Region
The location of a college greatly impacts the cost of rent and other living expenses that a student pays. Larger metropolitan areas in Missouri, such as Kansas City and St. Louis, cost more than towns located in rural areas. A student's cost of living, therefore, greatly impacts the overall cost of their education. If a student is using financial aid to pay for their college education, these expenses greatly impact how much debt they incur and can even impact their career choices. The table below describes some of the different options for on-campus students in Missouri.
Scholarships for Missouri College Students
Can all Scholarships be Used for Online Programs?
Most scholarships may be used for either on-campus or online programs. Still, it is important for students to contact the specific scholarship sponsor before applying to ensure that they meet all of the requirements. There may be instances where a scholarship's additional requirements preclude its use for distance learning programs.
Employment Outlook in Missouri
The rate of employment in Missouri remains steady with a low unemployment rate of 4%. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean income in Missouri is $44,620. Missouri's top industries include trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; and professional and business services. A number of Fortune 1000 companies are also headquartered within the state. Students interested in attending school or finding work in the state can expect a robust economy and job market for educated and skilled workers.
| Missouri | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate, May 2017 | 4.0% | 4.3% |
| Annual Mean Wage, May 2016 | $44,620 | $49,630 |
| Source: BLS and BLS | ||
Top Employers and Industries in Missouri
Top Industries in Missouri
Education and Health Services: CONTENT.
Professional and Business Services: CONTENT.
Top Employers in Missouri
Office and Administrative Support Occupations: 448,350 employees
Transportation and Material-Moving Occupations: 281,780 employees
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations: 264,430 employees
Accreditation for Colleges in Missouri
When students are deciding which college to attend, a school's accreditation should be a key factor in their decision-making process. Accreditation by a regional or national accrediting agency ensures that a school or a program meet established standards and provides a quality education; these standards are awarded to both on-campus and online schools in Missouri. Accreditation processes are rigorous and last an extended period of time. Employers tend to strongly prefer degrees that have been earned from accredited schools.
There are two kinds of accreditation: regional and national. Regional accreditation is the most prestigious and popular form of accreditation. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the U.S. Its higher learning commission accredits schools in Missouri.
There are three main agencies in the United States that offer national accreditation: the Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, and Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. These agencies typically award accreditation to two-year colleges and trade schools.
Resources for Students in Missouri
Mapping Your Future: The effective managing of finances is an integral part of a successful college experience. Mapping Your Future is a nonprofit organization that provides college students and their families with online advice and counseling on how to manage their money. It is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.
Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation: This nonprofit organization provides students with resources and services to help them prepare for, enter, and complete college in Missouri. It is particularly focused on low-income individuals.
Missouri Connections: Free to all students in Missouri, this site provides high school students with comprehensive online college and career planning. It is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Military.com: Students who are in the military can go to this site to learn about the GI Bill® and other benefits. Veterans can use this resource to find information that is specific to schools in Missouri.
Jobs.mo.gov: This is a state repository of information with portals for those seeking employment and for employers seeking talent. It is free for job seekers.