2023 Most Popular Schools in Missouri
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Most Popular Schools in Missouri ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 141 schools in Missouri to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Schools in Missouri
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found University of Missouri - Columbia to be the most popular school for students in Missouri. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the large public school awarded 9,036 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Mizzou accumulate an average of $21,797 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $398, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Mizzou graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,901 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
The programs at Missouri State University - Springfield helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Missouri. Missouri State is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 5,871 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,043 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $168 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Missouri State graduates make an average of $40,472 annually. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 141 schools in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the # 3 spot on the list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 5,763 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,648 in student loans. During the early years of their career, WUSTL graduates make an average of $61,341 annually. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at University of Missouri - Kansas City helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Missouri. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 3,692 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $27,022 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $184, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UMKC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $57,524 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Webster University is a great place for students. Webster is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 3,690 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $24,185 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Webster, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,709 during the early years of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Missouri list. MCC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,519 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,233 in student loans.After graduating from MCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,267 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
With a ranking of #7, Saint Louis University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. SLU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,422 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $25,051 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $511 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SLU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,202 during the early year of their career. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Central Missouri did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #8 on the list. UCM is a fairly large public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 3,103 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,019 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $168.After graduating from UCM, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,823 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Missouri ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 3,031 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $27,595 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $120, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UMSL graduates make an average of $45,753 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Maryville University of Saint Louis ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Missouri list. Maryville U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,992 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,584 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $452.After graduating from Maryville U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,828 during the early years of their career. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
Columbia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,912 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri accumulate an average of $31,707 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Columbia College Missouri graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,927 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
With a ranking of #12, Park University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Parkville, Missouri, and it awarded 2,692 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,858 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Park University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,849 during the early year of their career. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Saint Louis Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #13 on the list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 2,496 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $14,429 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Saint Louis Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,950 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Missouri list. Located in Rolla, Missouri, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,405 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $24,872 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $336 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Missouri University of Science and Technology graduates make an average of $63,979 annually. Around 24% of those degree recipients were women.
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Missouri list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,363 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $24,914 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $144, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,626 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. OTC is a fairly large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 2,336 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,769 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, OTC graduates make an average of $29,979 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 2,114 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $23,189 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $200 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Northwest graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,439 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Lindenwood University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Missouri ranking. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 2,068 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,304 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $202, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Lindenwood University graduates make an average of $41,243 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Missouri Southern State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #19 on the list. Joplin, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,422 students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Missouri Southern accumulate an average of $23,992 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Missouri Southern graduates make an average of $34,614 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Truman State University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Truman State University is a small public school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 1,327 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,434 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Truman State graduates make an average of $35,772 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Rockhurst University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Missouri ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 1,166 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $24,017 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $294.After graduating from Rockhurst, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,369 during the early years of their career. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
A T Still University of Health Sciences landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. A T Still University of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,362 degrees in 2020-2021.
After graduating from A T Still University of Health Sciences, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $79,229 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Crowder College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Schools in Missouri list. Crowder College is located in Neosho, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,095 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $11,637 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Crowder College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,800 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.
St Charles Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Schools in Missouri ranking. St Charles Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Cottleville, Missouri that handed out 954 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,289 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, SCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,388 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Three Rivers College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #25 on the list. Three Rivers College is located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 897 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,574 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Three Rivers College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,775 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Most Popular Schools in the Plains States Region
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Moberly Area Community College | Moberly, MO |
| 27 | Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph, MO |
| 28 | State Fair Community College | Sedalia, MO |
| 29 | Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar, MO |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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