This is a list of colleges and universities in the U.S. state of Missouri. For the purposes of this list, colleges and universities are defined as accredited, degree-granting, post secondary institutions. There are currently 67 such institutions operating in the state, including thirteen public universities, thirty-nine private 4-year institutions, and thirteen community colleges. In addition, many out-of-state institutions offer courses and degrees at locations in Missouri. Classifications are as defined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
University of Missouri System
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a University of Missouri Press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses. Headquartered in Columbia on the original campus, the extension program provides distance learning and other educational initiatives statewide. The UM System was created in 1963 when the University of Missouri and its offshoot, the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, were combined with the formerly-private University of Kansas City and a newly created campus in suburban St. Louis.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! School
! Location(s)
! Control
! Founded
|-
| University of Missouri
| Columbia
| align="center" | Public
| Doctoral/very high activity research university
| align="center" |31,543
| align="center" |1839
|-
| University of Missouri–Kansas City
| Kansas City
| align="center" | Public
| Doctoral/high activity research university
| align="center" |14,732
| align="center" |1933
|-
| Missouri University of Science and Technology
| Rolla
| align="center" | Public
| Doctoral/high activity research university
| align="center" |7,154
| align="center" |1870
|-
| University of Missouri–St. Louis
| St. Louis
| align="center" | Public
| Doctoral/high activity research university
| align="center" |14,736
| align="center" |1963
|}
Public universities
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! School
! Location(s)
! Founded
|-
| Harris–Stowe State University
| St. Louis
| align="center" | Public
| Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |1,002
| align="center" |1857
|-
| Lincoln University
| Jefferson City
| align="center" | Public
| Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |2,054
| align="center" |1866
|-
| Missouri Southern State University
| Joplin
| align="center" | Public
|Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |4,147
| align="center" |1937
|-
| Missouri State University
| Springfield
| align="center" | Public
| Doctoral/Professional University
| align="center" |24,360
| align="center" |1905
|-
| Missouri Western State University
| St. Joseph
| align="center" | Public
| Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |3,716
| align="center" |1915
|-
| Northwest Missouri State University
| Maryville
| align="center" | Public
| Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |9,152
| align="center" |1905
|-
| Southeast Missouri State University
| Cape Girardeau
| align="center" | Public
| Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |9,501
| align="center" |1873
|-
| Truman State University
| Kirksville
| align="center" | Public
| Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |3,664
| align="center" |1867
|-
| University of Central Missouri
| Warrensburg
| align="center" | Public
| Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |12,857
| align="center" |1871
|-
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Harris Teachers College was the City of St. Louis' teachers college for white students, and Stowe Teachers College was for black students until 1954, when the school board merged the two.
Private colleges and universities
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! School
! Location(s)
! Founded
|-
| Avila University
| Kansas City
| Private (Roman Catholic)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |2,768
| align="center" |1916
|-
| Central Methodist University
| Fayette
| Private (Methodist)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |4,843
| align="center" |1854
|-
| College of the Ozarks
| Point Lookout
| Private ( Presbyterian)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |1,454
| align="center" |1906
|-
| Columbia College
| Columbia
| Private
| align="center" |Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |5,689
| align="center" |1851
|-
| Cottey College
| Nevada
| Nonsectarian
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |254
| align="center" |1884
|-
| Culver–Stockton College
| Canton
| Disciples of Christ
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |1,028
| align="center" |1853
|-
| Drury University
| Springfield
| Private (Christian)
| align="center" |Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |2,274
| align="center" |1873
|-
| Evangel University
| Springfield
| Private (Assemblies of God)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |2,620
| align="center" |1955
|-
| Hannibal–LaGrange University
| Hannibal
| Private (Southern Baptist)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |499
| align="center" |1858
|-
| Lindenwood University
| St. Charles
| Private (Presbyterian)
| align="center" |Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |6,826
| align="center" |1832
|-
| Maryville University
| Town and Country
| Private
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |9,261
| align="center" |1872
|-
| Missouri Baptist University
| St. Louis
| Private (Southern Baptist)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |5,699
| align="center" |1957
|-
| Missouri Valley College
| Marshall
| Private (Presbyterian)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |1,770
| align="center" |1889
|-
| Park University
| Parkville
| Private
| align="center" |Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |5,736
| align="center" |1875
|-
| Rockhurst University
| Kansas City
| Private (Jesuit)
| align="center" |Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |3,577
| align="center" |1910
|-
| Saint Louis University
| St. Louis
| Private (Jesuit)
| align="center" |Doctoral/very high activity research university
| align="center" |17,059
| align="center" |1818
|-
| Southwest Baptist University
| Bolivar
| Private (Southern Baptist)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |2,199
| align="center" |1878
|-
| Stephens College
| Columbia
| Private
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |568
| align="center" |1833
|-
| Washington University in St. Louis
| St. Louis
| Private
| align="center" |Doctoral/very high activity research university
| align="center" |16,357
| align="center" |1853
|-
| Webster University
| Webster Groves
| Private
| align="center" |Master's colleges and universities
| align="center" |8,260
| align="center" |1915
|-
| Westminster College
| Fulton
| Private
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |640
| align="center" |1851
|-
| William Jewell College
| Liberty
| Private
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |959
| align="center" |1849
|-
| William Woods University
| Fulton
| Private (Disciples of Christ)
| align="center" |Baccalaureate college
| align="center" |2,046
| align="center" |1870
|-
|}
Associate's (community) colleges
Public
- Crowder College
- East Central College
- Jefferson College
- Metropolitan Community College
- Mineral Area College
- Missouri State University–West Plains
- Moberly Area Community College
- North Central Missouri College
- Ozarks Technical Community College
- St. Charles Community College
- St. Louis Community College
- State Fair Community College
- State Technical College of Missouri
- Three Rivers Community College
Private
- Ranken Technical College
Theological seminaries
- Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
- Central Christian College of the Bible
- Concordia Seminary
- Covenant Theological Seminary
- Eden Theological Seminary
- Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Midwest University
- Mission University
- Nazarene Theological Seminary
- Ozark Christian College
- Urshan Graduate School of Theology
Special focus
- A. T. Still University
- Cox College
- Kansas City Art Institute
- Kansas City University
- Logan University
- University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Defunct institutions
- Central Bible College (1922–2013)
- Central Female College (1869–1924)
- Fontbonne University (1923–2025)
- Lincoln and Lee University (1927–1933)
- Marion College, one of Missouri's oldest colleges, closed in 1844
- St. Louis Christian College (1956–2022)
- Wentworth Military Academy and College (1880–2017), Lexington
See also
- List of college athletic programs in Missouri
- Higher education in the United States
- List of American institutions of higher education
- List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations
References
External links
- Missouri public and independent colleges - Missouri Dept. of Higher Education
- Department of Education listing of accredited institutions in Missouri