University of Missouri-Columbia — College Profile

About

The University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri’s flagship public research institution, is internationally renowned for establishing the world’s first school of journalism and offers widely respected programs in business, agriculture, engineering, and health sciences. Central to the academic experience is the "Missouri Method," a signature philosophy emphasizing hands-on, practical training in real-world newsrooms, clinics, and research laboratories. Set in the classic, vibrant college town of Columbia, student life is marked by deep-seated school spirit, passionate SEC athletics, and iconic traditions such as founding the nation's first collegiate Homecoming.

Wikipedia:The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Founded in 1839, MU was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1908 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity."

Location

Columbia, MO, 65211 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

STL · St. Louis

106 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$14,837$36,056

Housing & food (on campus)$13,700$13,700

Books & supplies$950$950

Cost of attendance$31,713$59,488

Average net price$20,268Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$36,056

In-state: $14,837

Housing & food (on campus)$13,700

Books & supplies$950

Cost of attendance$59,488

In-state: $31,713

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $20,268

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: financialaid.missouri.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

University of Missouri-Columbia’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$38,068

Fees$1,256

Housing$15,780

Books & supplies$918

Personal expenses$3,466

Total published by the school$59,488

Source: financialaid.missouri.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$13,841

$30–48k

$13,378

$48–75k

$13,722

$75–110k

$19,762

$110k+

$26,304

Your family's actual price → University of Missouri-Columbia net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

76%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

56%

Back for yr 2

93%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

74% graduated · 21% transferred · 5% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$52,756

10 yrs after entry$63,403

Debt

Median at graduation$20,500

Monthly payment$217

Middle 50% owe$7.5k–$27k

90th percentile$32,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

78%

Test policy

Test optional

Checked Sep 2026

SAT average

1247

R 580–670 · M 570–660

ACT midpoint

Comp 23–30 · E 22–30 · M 22–28

SAT middle 50%: 1150–1330

40080012001600

Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry

Priority deadline

Dec 1 2026

in 60 days · apply for for scholarship

Not an admission plan: apply by then for extra consideration, often merit aid or honors.

Regular Decision

Jul 1 2027

in 272 days

Not binding: the standard deadline.

Checked Sep 2026 · admissions.missouri.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts

If University of Missouri-Columbia asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 45%Women 55%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

17 : 1

Pell grant

20%

First-gen

20%

Family income

$76,951

Independent

Veterans

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

79%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Gymnastics
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$52,756

After 10 yrs

$63,403

Business/Commerce, General792

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General528

Journalism461

Psychology, General358

Biology, General281

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing247

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods224

Computer and Information Sciences, General213

Accounting and Related Services171

Political Science and Government169

Communication and Media Studies162

Economics132

Mechanical Engineering125

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities121

Animal Sciences98

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions93

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$1.5B

Full-time faculty

79%

Faculty salary

$11,563/mo

Teaching spend

$13,675

per student

Federal loans

35%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$509M research spending · 303 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile