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Small Colleges in Missouri

50 schools in Missouri. See our methodology.

Healthcare dominates Missouri's small college market, with specialized nursing programs achieving perfect graduation rates at Southeast Missouri Hospital College and Cox College. The state's 67 small colleges serve fewer than 5,000 students each, with costs ranging from $5,161 to $34,947 annually. Missouri's A+ Scholarship program makes community colleges particularly accessible, supporting schools like Moberly Area Community College where students pay just $6,935 net cost. Technical education thrives through institutions like State Technical College of Missouri in Linn, where 79% of graduates complete their programs and earn $55,901 annually. The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy commands the highest graduate earnings at $137,047, reflecting Missouri's strong healthcare sector anchored by employers like BJC HealthCare. College of the Ozarks maintains the most selective admissions at 21.1%, while charging students only $7,669 after aid through its unique work-study model. Truman State University leads public liberal arts education with 68.4% graduation rates and $12,030 net costs. These schools connect directly to Missouri's economy, training professionals for healthcare systems, agricultural operations, and defense contractors like Cerner that drive regional employment.
50
Schools
$17,867
Avg. Net Price
$46,877
Avg. Earnings
53.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Small Colleges in Missouri

College listings
# School Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 146 $25,189 100.0% 25.8%
2 634 100.0% 33.3%
3 274 $33,596 75.5% 91.6%
4 2,023 $13,958 79.0%
5 2,666 $12,030 68.4% 45.1%
6 868 $16,602 61.6% 41.0%
7 1,415 $7,669 61.3% 21.1%
8 1,198 $10,528 56.4%
9 328 $34,947 33.3% 71.4%
10 1,695 $16,952 50.6%
11 1,702 $23,165 75.6% 66.5%
12 791 $25,140 70.0% 94.3%
13 2,180 $26,196 61.1% 55.1%
14 170 $12,860 52.6% 63.2%
15 2,928 $6,935 39.5%
16 2,622 $5,161 43.3%
17 1,530 $11,123 42.3%
18 2,372 $12,638 39.8%
19 2,475 $7,485 39.9%
20 1,719 $12,522 38.0%
21 4,550 $14,824 57.5% 85.6%
22 1,205 $18,705 64.8% 67.9%
23 2,514 $7,734 32.3%
24 860 $9,384 35.1%
25 4,748 $18,516 50.3% 74.0%
26 694 $13,375 32.1%
27 145 $13,866 40.9%
28 612 $17,931 67.9% 94.4%
29 1,909 $9,980 34.5%
30 95 $20,095 80.0% 100.0%
31 1,061 $22,270 57.0% 61.5%
32 98 $21,887 63.0% 96.2%
33 342 $21,887 38.2%
34 1,367 $21,523 66.0% 63.4%
35 140 $18,022 63.8%
36 592 $26,111 57.5% 75.3%
37 32 $33,216 64.3% 100.0%
38 266 $18,154 61.4% 73.0%
39 1,086 $13,459 27.4%
40 1,357 $12,484 22.1%
41 353 $23,277 46.5% 64.2%
42 782 $29,555 64.9% 58.5%
43 381 $21,123 44.3% 67.1%
44 1,452 $25,807 48.2% 70.9%
45 632 $18,251 56.8% 94.4%
46 1,192 $16,939 42.6% 67.6%
47 79 $14,903 65.6%
48 1,015 $25,477 52.5% 97.9%
49 3,101 $11,653 38.3% 99.5%
50 150 $20,383 27.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Missouri's small colleges affordable for students?

Missouri's A+ Scholarship covers community college tuition for qualifying students, while schools like College of the Ozarks charge just $7,669 net cost through work-study programs. State funding keeps public options like Truman State at $12,030 annually, well below the national average for four-year institutions.

How do healthcare programs perform at small Missouri colleges?

Healthcare-focused institutions achieve remarkable success, with Southeast Missouri Hospital College and Cox College both maintaining 100% graduation rates. The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy graduates earn $137,047 annually, the highest among small colleges, reflecting Missouri's strong medical sector employment opportunities.

Is technical education strong at Missouri's smaller institutions?

State Technical College of Missouri graduates 79% of students who earn $55,901 annually, while Ranken Technical College maintains 50.6% completion rates with $55,955 earnings. These programs connect directly to Missouri's manufacturing and technology sectors, including major employers like Cerner.

What acceptance rates do Missouri small colleges maintain?

Acceptance rates span from 21.1% at College of the Ozarks to 94.3% at other institutions. Most schools accept 40-70% of applicants, with specialized programs like nursing maintaining more selective admissions due to clinical placement limitations and program intensity.

Where do graduates from these colleges find employment?

Missouri's healthcare systems like BJC HealthCare, agricultural companies, and technology firms like Cerner actively recruit from small college programs. The state's central location and varied economy provide opportunities ranging from $35,352 to $137,047 in starting salaries across different fields.

Does size affect graduation success at Missouri colleges?

Small enrollments often correlate with higher graduation rates, as seen at Southeast Missouri Hospital College with 146 students achieving 100% completion. However, larger small colleges like Truman State maintain strong 68.4% rates with 2,666 students through focused academic support systems.

Related

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See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.