by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Missouri, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **27** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 27 graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Washington University In St Louis this year in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Washington University In St Louis students take on a median of $17,553 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Saint Louis University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,599. Saint Louis University Main Campus students take on a median of $26,586 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #3 place in Missouri. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, MO. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,134. Typical student debt is $21,818.
Out of the 27 graduate schools in Missouri in this year's ranking, Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #4 spot. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school based in Rolla, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $74,532. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete a degree here.
Rockhurst University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Missouri. Located in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rockhurst University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,966. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,849. Rockhurst University students take on a median of $24,111 in debt.
A T Still University Of Health Sciences ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Kirksville, MO, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,586.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,909. The median student debt is $24,499.
Concordia Seminary did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Concordia Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $95,127 early in their careers.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Located in Kansas City, MO, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,324. Typical student debt is $23,741.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #10 spot in Missouri this year. Located in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,496. University Of Central Missouri students take on a median of $24,304 in debt.
Truman State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Kirksville, MO. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,764. Truman State University students take on a median of $23,168 in debt.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $26,150. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,925. Typical student debt is $27,750.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,079. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Northwest Missouri State University is a public school based in Maryville, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,939. Students borrow a median of $23,585 to complete a degree here.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,530. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,308. The median student debt is $15,559.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Missouri State University Springfield posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Median early-career earnings reach $46,503. Missouri State University Springfield students take on a median of $24,408 in debt.
Webster University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Median early-career earnings reach $57,152. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete a degree here.
Research College Of Nursing landed the #18 spot in Missouri this year. Set in Kansas City, MO, Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,273. Graduates go on to earn a median of $92,404 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Cox College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Springfield, MO, Cox College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,822 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,360 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $28,794.
Lindenwood University landed the #20 spot in Missouri this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Charles, MO. Lindenwood University graduates 49% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,197. Graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans.
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Cape Girardeau, MO. Southeast Missouri State University graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,255 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,289.
Logan University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Chesterfield, MO, Logan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,628. The median student debt is $14,000.
Park University placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Park University is a private not-for-profit school based in Parkville, MO. About 37% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,116. Median early-career earnings reach $52,616. Park University students take on a median of $22,112 in debt.
Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences landed the #24 spot in Missouri this year. Set in Kansas City, MO, Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,286.
Southwest Baptist University did well this year, earning the #25 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bolivar, MO. Southwest Baptist University graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,566. Median early-career earnings reach $49,135. Graduates carry a median of $24,436 in student loans.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
