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.
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
- 1Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO · Private NonprofitNet price$21,786/yrMedian earnings$86,18296ROI
- 2Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRolla, MO · PublicNet price$16,298/yrMedian earnings$82,95790ROI
- 3University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisSaint Louis, MO · Private NonprofitNet price$31,817/yrMedian earnings$137,04788ROI
- 4Chamberlain University-MissouriSt. Louis, MO · Private For-ProfitNet price$30,716/yrMedian earnings$92,40587ROI
- 5Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO · Private NonprofitNet price$24,398/yrMedian earnings$70,78380ROI
- 6Rockhurst UniversityKansas City, MO · Private NonprofitNet price$25,884/yrMedian earnings$67,10278ROI
- 7University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · PublicNet price$20,268/yrMedian earnings$63,40377ROI
- 8University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · PublicNet price$13,310/yrMedian earnings$59,63775ROI
- 9Truman State UniversityKirksville, MO · PublicNet price$12,780/yrMedian earnings$56,28073ROI
- 10William Jewell CollegeLiberty, MO · Private NonprofitNet price$17,562/yrMedian earnings$59,26872ROI
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
Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, MO
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
Logan University
Chesterfield, MO
Avila University
Kansas City, MO
Park University
Parkville, MO
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO
Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies
Fayette, MO
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO
Westminster College
Fulton, MO
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Fayette, MO
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Kansas City, MO
Conception Seminary College
Conception, MO
Evangel University
Springfield, MO
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO
Ozark Christian College
Joplin, MO
Calvary University
Kansas City, MO
Hannibal-LaGrange University
Hannibal, MO
Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO
Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, MO
Evangel University-College of Online Learning
Springfield, MO
Drury University
Springfield, MO
William Woods University
Fulton, MO
Columbia College
Columbia, MO
Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Springfield, MO
Cottey College
Nevada, MO
Culver-Stockton College
Canton, MO
Stephens College
Columbia, MO
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, MO
Missouri Valley College
Marshall, MO
Mission University
Springfield, MO
Central Christian College of the Bible
Moberly, MO
Lincoln University
Jefferson City, MO
Harris-Stowe State University
Saint Louis, MO
Stevens-The Institute of Business & Arts
Saint Louis, MO
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release