COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri System universities are trending upward in several key areas, according to new data from U.S. News and World Report.
The annual “Best Colleges” rankings consider factors such as the value and quality of education, retention and graduation rates, and investments in faculty and students.
The progress highlights dedication and hard work across the UM System, University of Missouri President Mun Choi said.
“These rankings confirm that our universities are achieving excellence at new levels,” Choi said. “The chancellors along with the outstanding faculty and staff at all four universities have worked diligently to make sure students have the support to succeed, and this report reflects that.”
“The latest U.S. News and World Report data indicates our efforts to be among the very best are producing the results we desire and our stakeholders deserve, said Robin Wenneker, chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. “We continually challenge ourselves to meet the high standards and demanding expectations of everyone served by the University of Missouri System. We are especially pleased to see our very positive trajectory in many important categories, and that is a credit to the commitment of our administration, faculty and staff at all four of our campuses. Together, we will continue to propel our university system to new levels of success for our universities and for the state of Missouri, which we proudly serve.”
Here’s a brief look at key indicators from each campus.
University of Missouri-Columbia
Mizzou’s rank as Best Value among flagship universities increased from No. 7 to No. 4, a measurement that considers a university’s cost and the quality of education. Mizzou’s Best Value rank among flagship universities is No. 1 among SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and PAC-12 institutions.
Across the board, Mizzou’s U.S. News and World Report ranking improved in 16 out of 18 evaluated areas — including retention and graduation rates.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
UMKC saw a 25-spot improvement in rankings for national universities this year. The college’s undergraduate engineering and nursing programs are also ranked in the top 100.
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri S&T has again topped the list of public engineering schools in the state and remains among the best engineering universities in the U.S. The Rolla campus tied as No. 4 in the nation when it comes to alumni salaries, tying for the No. 2 spot when compared to other public universities in that category.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
UMSL ranks No. 1 in Missouri for graduating students who receive Pell Grants, an indication of social mobility. UMSL has been recognized annually in that particular area since it became part of the rankings in 2020. Overall, UMSL climbed six slots among top public universities, with its undergraduate international business program ranked No. 20