Best Colleges in Missouri by ROI

Trying to find the best value in Missouri? We ranked all 50 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Washington University in St Louis comes out on top at 96/100 - here's how every school compares.

50
Schools
43
Avg ROI Score
$19,598
Avg Net Price
96
Top Score

We scored all 50 Missouri colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 43/100, on an average net price of $19,598 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Washington University in St Louis at 96/100.

Graduates of University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $137,047. The lightest price tag belongs to College of the Ozarks at $6,100 a year. The list below ranks every Missouri college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 Missouri Colleges by ROI Score

  1. 1Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO · Private Nonprofit96ROI
  2. 2Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRolla, MO · Public90ROI
  3. 3University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisSaint Louis, MO · Private Nonprofit88ROI
  4. 4Chamberlain University-MissouriSt. Louis, MO · Private For-Profit87ROI
  5. 5Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO · Private Nonprofit80ROI
  6. 6Rockhurst UniversityKansas City, MO · Private Nonprofit78ROI
  7. 7University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · Public77ROI
  8. 8University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · Public75ROI
  9. 9Truman State UniversityKirksville, MO · Public73ROI
  10. 10William Jewell CollegeLiberty, MO · Private Nonprofit72ROI

Missouri College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Missouri?

Washington University in St Louis has the highest ROI score in Missouri at 96/100, while the lowest net price among Missouri schools we track is $6,100/year at College of the Ozarks. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in Missouri?

The average net price across the 50 Missouri colleges in our dataset is $19,598 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which Missouri college has the highest graduate earnings?

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis reports the highest median earnings among Missouri schools we scored, at $137,047 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in Missouri did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 50 colleges in Missouri on return on investment. Of those, 11 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All Missouri Schools by ROI Score

50 schools

96

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO

Exceptional ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,786
Earnings
$86,182
Completion
94%
90

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO

Exceptional ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,298
Earnings
$82,957
Completion
64%
88

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis

Saint Louis, MO

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$31,817
Earnings
$137,047
Completion
62%
87

Chamberlain University-Missouri

St. Louis, MO

Strong ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$30,716
Earnings
$92,405
Completion
100%
80

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,398
Earnings
$70,783
Completion
80%
78

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, MO

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$25,884
Earnings
$67,102
Completion
75%
77

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$20,268
Earnings
$63,403
Completion
75%
75

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,310
Earnings
$59,637
Completion
55%
73

Truman State University

Kirksville, MO

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,780
Earnings
$56,280
Completion
69%
72

William Jewell College

Liberty, MO

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$17,562
Earnings
$59,268
Completion
68%
68

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, MO

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,066
Earnings
$62,105
Completion
66%
59

University of Missouri-St Louis

Saint Louis, MO

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,071
Earnings
$53,037
Completion
57%
58

College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$6,100
Earnings
$41,592
Completion
64%
53

Logan University

Chesterfield, MO

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,218
Earnings
$55,838
Completion
22%
51

Avila University

Kansas City, MO

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$16,053
Earnings
$52,773
Completion
52%
50

Park University

Parkville, MO

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,032
Earnings
$56,309
Completion
38%
48

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$14,462
Earnings
$49,560
Completion
54%
46

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$17,613
Earnings
$49,827
Completion
58%
43

Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,244
Earnings
$47,885
Completion
54%
43

Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies

Fayette, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$14,601
Earnings
$48,991
Completion
0%
42

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,638
Earnings
$53,278
Completion
49%
41

Webster University

Saint Louis, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$27,047
Earnings
$50,876
Completion
64%
41

Westminster College

Fulton, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,314
Earnings
$52,199
Completion
55%
40

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Fayette, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,766
Earnings
$48,991
Completion
51%
40

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Kansas City, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,006
Earnings
$50,535
Completion
48%
39

Conception Seminary College

Conception, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,558
Earnings
$50,430
Completion
50%
35

Evangel University

Springfield, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,669
Earnings
$46,573
Completion
65%
35

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, MO

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,882
Earnings
$44,030
Completion
58%
32

Ozark Christian College

Joplin, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,580
Earnings
$41,297
Completion
64%
30

Calvary University

Kansas City, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$16,334
Earnings
$45,421
Completion
52%
30

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Hannibal, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,814
Earnings
$42,643
Completion
50%
30

Missouri Southern State University

Joplin, MO

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,007
Earnings
$42,620
Completion
42%
29

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, MO

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,251
Earnings
$42,647
Completion
39%
29

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,677
Earnings
$43,112
Completion
55%
28

Evangel University-College of Online Learning

Springfield, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,503
Earnings
$46,573
Completion
50%
26

Drury University

Springfield, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,831
Earnings
$40,694
Completion
62%
26

William Woods University

Fulton, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,569
Earnings
$42,401
Completion
47%
25

Columbia College

Columbia, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,715
Earnings
$45,378
Completion
42%
25

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$27,006
Earnings
$46,660
Completion
48%
24

Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies

Springfield, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$10,566
Earnings
$40,694
Completion
43%
22

Cottey College

Nevada, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$13,805
Earnings
$35,422
Completion
56%
22

Culver-Stockton College

Canton, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,983
Earnings
$46,092
Completion
39%
20

Stephens College

Columbia, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,459
Earnings
$43,071
Completion
43%
18

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$27,650
Earnings
$37,032
Completion
58%
16

Missouri Valley College

Marshall, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$18,086
Earnings
$43,221
Completion
22%
15

Mission University

Springfield, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,383
Earnings
$38,641
Completion
44%
15

Central Christian College of the Bible

Moberly, MO

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$14,356
Earnings
$34,675
Completion
22%
10

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, MO

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,092
Earnings
$39,463
Completion
21%
5

Harris-Stowe State University

Saint Louis, MO

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$9,922
Earnings
$31,088
Completion
28%
4

Stevens-The Institute of Business & Arts

Saint Louis, MO

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$19,137
Earnings
$29,058
Completion
14%

Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release