University of Missouri-Columbia vs. University of Missouri-St Louis

Deciding between University of Missouri Columbia and University of Missouri St Louis? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Missouri Columbia
University of Missouri St Louis

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Midsize City
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 31,543
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 14,736
  • Type
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Public 4 Year
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Missouri-Columbia #273
  • University of Missouri-St Louis #421
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Missouri-Columbia -
  • University of Missouri-St Louis -
  • Status
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Non-profit
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Missouri-Columbia
  • University of Missouri-St Louis
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $14,837
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $14,112
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $36,056
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $35,112
  • Room & Board
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $13,700
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $13,502
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $22,169
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $14,008
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $13,203
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $17,096
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 95%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 100%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Calculate
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 24,490
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 6,193
  • Admitted
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 19,218
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 3,881
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 78.5%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 62.7%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 31%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 1240
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 26
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 3.61
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Missouri-Columbia A-
  • University of Missouri-St Louis A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Difficult
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Missouri-Columbia
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 23/30
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 19/27
  • SAT Range
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 1150/1330
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 1060/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Test optional
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Missouri-Columbia
  • University of Missouri-St Louis
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 17:1
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Missouri-Columbia
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • University of Missouri-St Louis
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 69%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $54,200
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $46,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 73%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $21,883
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $20,987
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Missouri-Columbia $226
  • University of Missouri-St Louis $217
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 44%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 41%
  • % Women
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 56%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Low
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Missouri-Columbia No
  • University of Missouri-St Louis No
  • % White
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 79%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 63%
  • % Asian
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 2%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 5%
  • % Black
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 8%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 4%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 3%
  • % Native American
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 0%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 0%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 3%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 3%
  • % International
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 4%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 0%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 65%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Missouri-Columbia 34%
  • University of Missouri-St Louis 18%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Yes
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Yes
  • University of Missouri-St Louis No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Yes
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Yes
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Missouri-Columbia No
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Yes
  • Learn More
  • University of Missouri-Columbia Details
  • University of Missouri-St Louis Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Missouri Columbia in Columbia, MO with University of Missouri St Louis in Saint Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Missouri Columbia is larger than University of Missouri-St Louis based on total student enrollment (31,543 students vs. 14,736 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Missouri Columbia is located in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting); University of Missouri St Louis is in Saint Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Missouri Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Missouri St Louis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Missouri Columbia 17:1; University of Missouri St Louis 13:1.

University of Missouri-Columbia vs. University of Missouri-St Louis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Missouri-Columbia or University of Missouri-St Louis? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Missouri St Louis than University of Missouri-Columbia ($14,008 vs. $22,169).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Missouri St Louis are 1.4% lower than at University of Missouri Columbia ($13,502 vs. $13,700).
  • University of Missouri Columbia is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Missouri-St Louis (about $725 more per year; $14,837.00 vs. $14,112.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at University of Missouri-Columbia than at University of Missouri St Louis (about $944 more per year; $36,056.00 vs. $35,112.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Missouri St Louis than at University of Missouri Columbia (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Missouri St Louis students is 29.5% larger than aid received by University of Missouri Columbia students ($17,096 vs. $13,203).

University of Missouri-Columbia vs. University of Missouri-St Louis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Missouri-Columbia or University of Missouri-St Louis? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Missouri-St Louis and University of Missouri-Columbia.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Missouri Columbia (1240) is 60 points higher than at University of Missouri-St Louis (1180).
  • Incoming University of Missouri-Columbia students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at University of Missouri-St Louis).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Missouri Columbia 1150/1330; University of Missouri St Louis 1060/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Missouri Columbia 23/30; University of Missouri St Louis 19/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Missouri-Columbia - Test optional; University of Missouri-St Louis - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman University of Missouri-Columbia students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at University of Missouri-St Louis (3.5).
  • University of Missouri-Columbia has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than University of Missouri-St Louis (62.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31% at University of Missouri-Columbia vs. 12.6% at University of Missouri-St Louis.

University of Missouri-Columbia vs. University of Missouri-St Louis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Missouri-St Louis? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Missouri Columbia's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than University of Missouri St Louis's (51%).
  • Graduates from University of Missouri Columbia earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than University of Missouri-St Louis graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,200 vs. $46,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Missouri St Louis graduates have a $896 lower median loan debt than University of Missouri-Columbia graduates ($20,987 vs. $21,883).
  • Among borrowers, University of Missouri-St Louis graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Missouri-Columbia graduates ($217 vs. $226).
  • More University of Missouri-Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Missouri-St Louis students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.