Most Selective Colleges in Missouri
Ranked by acceptance rate (33 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofit | 12% | $6,100 | $41,592 |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | 12% | $21,786 | $86,182 |
| 3 | William Jewell College Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit | 38% | $17,562 | $59,268 |
| 4 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | 55% | $27,650 | $37,032 |
| 5 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit | 57% | $19,638 | $53,278 |
| 6 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Fayette, MO · Private nonprofit | 57% | $22,766 | $48,991 |
| 7 | Drury University Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit | 58% | $20,831 | $40,694 |
| 8 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis, MO · Public | 63% | $15,071 | $53,037 |
| 9 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO · Public | 64% | $14,462 | $49,560 |
| 10 | Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO · Private nonprofit | 68% | $21,677 | $43,112 |
| 11 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | 69% | $27,006 | $46,660 |
| 12 | Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO · Private nonprofit | 69% | $18,086 | $43,221 |
| 13 | Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | 70% | $25,884 | $67,102 |
| 14 | William Woods University Fulton, MO · Private nonprofit | 71% | $26,569 | $42,401 |
| 15 | Evangel University Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit | 72% | $18,669 | $46,573 |
| 16 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Public | 72% | $13,310 | $59,637 |
| 17 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO · Public | 73% | $16,298 | $82,957 |
| 18 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO · Public | 74% | $15,882 | $44,030 |
| 19 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | 75% | $24,398 | $70,783 |
| 20 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO · Public | 78% | $20,268 | $63,403 |
| 21 | Westminster College Fulton, MO · Private nonprofit | 79% | $24,314 | $52,199 |
| 22 | Truman State University Kirksville, MO · Public | 84% | $12,780 | $56,280 |
| 23 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO · Public | 86% | $16,244 | $47,885 |
| 24 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | 86% | $27,047 | $50,876 |
| 25 | Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies Fayette, MO · Private nonprofit | 88% | $14,601 | $48,991 |
| 26 | Avila University Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | 88% | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| 27 | Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO · Public | 91% | $17,613 | $49,827 |
| 28 | Ozark Christian College Joplin, MO · Private nonprofit | 94% | $20,580 | $41,297 |
| 29 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | 95% | $22,066 | $62,105 |
| 30 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | 96% | $23,006 | $50,535 |
| 31 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO · Public | 97% | $12,007 | $42,620 |
| 32 | Culver-Stockton College Canton, MO · Private nonprofit | 99% | $21,983 | $46,092 |
| 33 | Cox College Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit | 100% | — | $56,867 |