By Iris Stone
In this ranking, we highlight the best values in colleges and universities in Missouri. We've also compiled a ranking of the top online universities in Missouri.
A quick look at your academic choices in this Midwestern state should easily convince you that Missouri is overflowing with best value colleges. Be warned if you have trouble making decisions! With all-star universities like Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri in Columbia, and the Missouri University of Science and Technology, you can feel confident that this ranking has something for everyone. Even if you're seriously strapped for cash, fear not; one of the top schools we've included offers nearly free tuition!
How did we determine our ranking? While it's difficult to claim that any college or university would be a great fit for everyone, we do know that there are certain features almost everyone looks for during their college search: affordability, selectivity, and student success (both before and after graduation). Using these metrics and weighting them according to importance, we've produced a list that is heavy on academic excellence, resources, and student programs while treading lightly on your pocketbook.
Our Ranking Methodology:
Graduation Rate: This indicator refers to the percentage of students who complete their degree within 150% of normal time (six years for a typical four-year degree program). Schools that perform well in this area have a track record of keeping students engaged and successful for their entire time on campus. We weighted this category 30% of the total and retrieved the information from College Navigator.
Net Price: In order to make sure that cost was still a factor in the ranking, we also considered overall net price as an indicator. Taken from data on College Navigator, "net price" is an approximate value that refers to the average amount of money a student could expect to pay each year after taking into account tuition, room and board, living expenses, scholarship awards, and financial aid packages. We weighted this category 25% of the total.
Acceptance Rate: Academically challenging, popular universities tend to be more selective and thus have a lower acceptance rate. In order to pinpoint those colleges that boast rigorous academics and also receive a large number of applications, we considered acceptance rate – the percentage of students out of the total number of applicants who receive an acceptance letter. We retrieved this information from College Navigator and weighted it 30% of the total.
20-Year Net Return on Investment: Taken from information on the website PayScale, this statistic provides a picture of how much students can expect to make after they graduate from a particular college. More specifically, the figure is calculated by taking the average income an alumnus will make over his or her first 20 years after graduation and subtracting the amount paid in tuition. Schools with a high ROI tend to be better at preparing their students for the job market. We weighted this category only 15% because data was not available for all colleges considered.
After adding all the points, we gave each university a final score out of 200. The schools below have scores ranging from 88 to 145, and each has something different to offer in terms of its cost, quality, and reputation. No one college is perfect (which is why the scores vary so much) but this ranking offers you a premier selection of universities to help get you started on your search for an education in Missouri.
Ranking the Best Values in Missouri Colleges and Universities
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
Sources:
Pay Scale
College Navigator
Wikipedia
This concludes our ranking of the best value Missouri colleges and universities.
About the Author:
Iris Stone began her writing career as a freelance writer and researcher. She now owns and operates a writing and editing firm that works with clients all across the country. Her work has included articles related to education policy, colleges and universities, academic programs, and careers.
