University of Missouri-Columbia is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbia, Missouri. It enrolls 23,929 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value64
Affordability34
Selectivity58
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.5%, University of Missouri-Columbia is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1150 – 1330
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Missouri-Columbia is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Missouri-Columbia isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,268 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,268
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
35%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$14,837
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$36,056
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,700
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,700
Books & Supplies
$950
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,558
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,558
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,713
Application fee: $55 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,841
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,378
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,722
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,762
Over $110,000
$26,304
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$20,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$32,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,750
↓ $3,750
No Pell $16,288
↓ $4,212
Dependent students $16,750
↓ $3,750
Independent students $14,408
↓ $6,092
Female students $17,500
↓ $3,000
Male students $15,000
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($20,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
66% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Missouri-Columbia graduate within six years, and 92% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
66%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
92%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Missouri-Columbia earn a median of $63,403 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,403
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$50,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$61,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$51,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,500, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Missouri-Columbia is home to 23,929 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
23,929
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.3%18,964
Hispanic 6.2%1,474
Other 4.8%1,146
Black 4.8%1,146
Asian 2.7%646
International 1.0%242
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Missouri-Columbia. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityColumbia, Missouri
Housing
Partly residential6,530 beds available
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Missouri-Columbia offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
232 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Missouri-Columbia is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$15,421
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.4B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,799
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
2,062 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
542
26%
$144,277
Associate Professors
584
28%
$100,263
Assistant Professors
748
36%
$88,615
Instructors
185
9%
$56,094
Lecturers
3
0%
$50,496
Pros & Cons of University of Missouri-Columbia
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Missouri-Columbia tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Missouri-Columbia is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Missouri-Columbia
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Missouri-Columbia.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia hard to get into?
University of Missouri-Columbia has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Missouri-Columbia?
University of Missouri-Columbia has an acceptance rate of 78.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Missouri-Columbia?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Missouri-Columbia scored between 1150 and 1330 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Missouri-Columbia?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Missouri-Columbia scored between 23 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Missouri-Columbia cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Missouri-Columbia is $20,268 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,403 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,268 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Missouri-Columbia known for?
University of Missouri-Columbia is best known for its programs in Business, Health Sciences, Journalism. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Missouri-Columbia graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Missouri-Columbia are $63,403, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia accredited?
Yes. University of Missouri-Columbia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Missouri-Columbia?
University of Missouri-Columbia enrolls 23,929 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Missouri-Columbia?
University of Missouri-Columbia graduates 66% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia a public or private college?
University of Missouri-Columbia is a Public institution.
Where is University of Missouri-Columbia located?
University of Missouri-Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri.
What programs does University of Missouri-Columbia offer?
University of Missouri-Columbia offers 232 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Health Sciences, Journalism.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Missouri-Columbia?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Missouri-Columbia is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Missouri
Other colleges in Missouri share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Rankings That Feature University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-Columbia appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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