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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Missouri

15 Ranked Colleges
493 Degrees Awarded
$14,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

General Education is the 41st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.

Across Missouri, there were 493 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,366 and $32,538 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in general education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The education school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Missouri

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” list. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $11,005 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at University of Missouri - Columbia

2
UMSL crest
University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMSL is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 79 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

UMSL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $9,991 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Education at University of Missouri - St Louis

3
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lindenwood University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 73 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Lindenwood University also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $12,948 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University General Education Report

4
Rockhurst crest
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, Missouri

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rockhurst University landed the #4 spot on the list. Rockhurst University is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 10 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Rockhurst has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rockhurst University is $13,440 for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Rockhurst University General Education Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 7 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,724 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at UMKC

6
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SLU, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $15,136 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Louis University.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Education at Saint Louis University

7

Southwest Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Bolivar, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 75 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwest Baptist University, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Baptist University is $16,346 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Education at Southwest Baptist University

8
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Webster University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 43 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Webster not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Webster is $18,047 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Education at Webster

9
Fontbonne University crest
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Fontbonne University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 13 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Fontbonne University also took the #12 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $10,983 for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Fontbonne University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Fontbonne University General Education Report

10
Avila crest
Avila University
Kansas City, Missouri

Avila University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Avila University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Avila has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Avila University is $15,642 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Education at Avila

11
Harris - Stowe State University crest
Harris - Stowe State University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Harris - Stowe State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Harris - Stowe State University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $10,182 for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Harris - Stowe State University.

Full Harris - Stowe State University General Education Report

12
MBU crest
Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #12, Missouri Baptist University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

MBU also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MBU is $16,710 for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Education at Missouri Baptist University

13

Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Maryville U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 5 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Maryville U also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $21,442 for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Maryville U.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Maryville U General Education Report

14

Hannibal - LaGrange University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Hannibal, Missouri, and it awarded 13 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

HLGU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hannibal - LaGrange University is $22,384 for Missouri Education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Education at Hannibal - LaGrange University

15

Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Missouri For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. CMU CGES is a small school located in Fayette, Missouri that handed out 36 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CMU CGES, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Missouri” ranking. It costs about $10,456 for missouri education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies.

Read more about General Education at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies

Notes and References

References

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