by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Missouri, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **48** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 48 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Washington University In St Louis, our #1 graduate school in Missouri. Located in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,790. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,303. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 48 graduate schools in Missouri in this year's ranking, Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #2 spot. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $65,599. Saint Louis University Main Campus students take on a median of $26,586 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top graduate schools in Missouri. Based in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Missouri. Set in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $74,532. Missouri University Of Science And Technology students take on a median of $25,187 in debt.
Out of the 48 graduate schools in Missouri in this year's ranking, A T Still University Of Health Sciences landed the #5 spot. Set in Kirksville, MO, A T Still University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,586 early in their careers.
Rockhurst University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,966. Median early-career earnings reach $70,849. Typical student debt is $24,111.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Located in Kansas City, MO, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,324. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete a degree here.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,909. Typical student debt is $24,499.
Concordia Seminary ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set 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.
William Jewell College landed the #10 spot in Missouri this year. Based in Liberty, MO, William Jewell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,610. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,588. Students borrow a median of $25,950 to complete a degree here.
University Of Central Missouri did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Warrensburg, MO. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. University Of Central Missouri graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,496. The median student debt is $24,304.
Truman State University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Kirksville, MO. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. 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 #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,150. Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,925. Graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #14 in this year's ranking. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school based in Saint Louis, MO. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,079. The median student debt is $25,943.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,530 in tuition and fees. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,308. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary students take on a median of $15,559 in debt.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #16 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Maryville, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Northwest Missouri State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,939. Northwest Missouri State University students take on a median of $23,585 in debt.
Missouri State University Springfield did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,503. Typical student debt is $24,408.
Ponce Health Sciences University St Louis ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in St. Louis, MO, Ponce Health Sciences University St Louis is a private for-profit institution.
Webster University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Webster University graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,152. Webster University students take on a median of $25,939 in debt.
Research College Of Nursing landed the #20 spot in Missouri this year. Based in Kansas City, MO, Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,273. Research College Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $92,404. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Lindenwood University placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Charles, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Median early-career earnings reach $48,197. Lindenwood University students take on a median of $28,663 in debt.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Missouri. Set in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,903. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,255. Typical student debt is $23,289.
Cox College landed the #23 spot in Missouri this year. Set in Springfield, MO, Cox College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,822. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,360. Cox College students take on a median of $28,794 in debt.
Park University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Park University is a private not-for-profit school based in Parkville, MO. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,616. Park University students take on a median of $22,112 in debt.
Logan University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Chesterfield, MO, Logan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,000. Logan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,628. Graduates carry a median of $14,000 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), 2027 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.
