20 BEST VALUE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN MISSOURI

If you're even remotely familiar with the top colleges in Missouri, you probably expected Washington University in St. Louis to show up at the #1 spot. Its 95% graduation rate, 17% acceptance rate, and $500,000 net ROI make it an unequivocal leader in all respects. You could visit the gorgeous campus any day and overhear passionate conversations between intellectual students discussing ambitious plans for research or promoting the cause with a social justice group. But while Wash U is one of the best universities in Missouri for smart students, they still make time for fun in the city; conversations also include stories of their visits to museums, evenings at The Loop (one of the top 10 streets in America), and trips to cheer on the beloved Cardinals.

Although its official name is College of the Ozarks, you might as well call this school Hard Work U.C of O professes to exemplify what is right with America, namely the work ethic and dedication that once established the United States as a beacon of equal opportunity. This Missouri college doesn't participate in any loan programs, but it is still one of the most affordable Missouri colleges. How? Its Work Education Program, which provides all students with on-campus jobs (you might work in a computer lab, the Child Development Center, or a museum, among other places) that defray tuition costs. Students frequently graduate debt-free, which has made C of O incredibly popular - so much so that its acceptance rate is only 8%.

Truman State University takes on a unique position on this ranking of the most affordable top universities in Missouri. Unlike the many large public research schools and small religious colleges in the state, TSU is a midsized, public university of traditional liberal arts values. Students choose TSU because they want to stand out from the crowd instead of getting lost in it. The 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio offers young scholars the advantage of taking small classes from professors who know their name - and who might even invite them to partner on research projects. Academics focus on high impact learning activities like internships and study abroad travel, and this hands-on approach has led TSU to an notable graduation rate of 71%.

With exciting metropolitan areas like St. Louis and Kansas City, it might be hard to imagine why anyone would choose to attend college in Parkville. But don't pass judgment too quickly. The small town's antique stores, art galleries, and historic architecture offer a quaint alternative to big-city chaos. And despite its humble location, this Missouri university takes a worldly approach to education. Its core values include global citizenship, inclusivity, and excellence - values that are reflected in its many engaging student programs, including the International Center for Music, where artists can take lessons in the renowned European apprenticeship model. Park is also one of the most affordable colleges in Missouri, putting students in a comfortable financial position upon graduation and contributing to a $435k 20-year net ROI.

Right off the bat, it's easy to see what makes this Missouri college unique. While many independent religious universities have trouble keeping costs down, Central Christian seems to have uncovered the secret to becoming a great cheap college in Missouri. In fact, many of the college's alumni graduated entirely debt-free. Central also distinguishes itself through its unusually strict code of conduct, which prohibits alcohol consumption, R-rated movies, spending the night with a significant other, and staying out past midnight on weeknights. Although this lifestyle deviates substantially from what many consider to be the traditional collegiate experience, CCC is anything but unpopular. Its acceptance rate is only 42%, which means it has to turn away almost 60% of applicants each year.

As another one of the great Jesuit institutions in Missouri, this Missouri university holds a dual reputation for both academic excellence and cultural diversity. 8,600 undergraduates from all faiths and backgrounds (including 75+ countries) choose SLU in an attempt to capture this inclusive spirit, and in return the school makes a committed effort to offer its students the world. And between the school's ideal placement within the St. Louis' cultured art district; its satellite campus in Madrid, Spain; the nearly $40 million in research support; and its endless catalog of international programs (the international business program is also one of the best in the nation), SLU undoubtedly achieves its goal.

The University of Missouri Columbia, or Mizzou as locals say, is the largest public research university in the state and the flagship campus of the UM system. And forget being one of the top colleges in Missouri - Mizzou is without a doubt one of the top public schools in the United States. At this school, it's all about being comprehensive; 300 degree programs, 35k students from 120 nations, and $235 million in annual research expenditures prove that the University of Missouri Columbia offers more variety and opportunities than you could possibly uncover in four short years. That being said, Mizzou also has a reputation for excellence in a few very specific areas, most notably as a top choice for creative writing and journalism.

With the skyrocketing cost of education, most students can't afford to think of college as anything other than an investment - not just in terms of their own growth, but also in the financial return they should expect. At this Missouri university, this reality empowers students to take their studies seriously. Degree programs focus almost exclusively on engineering, sciences, and computing - Aerospace Engineering, Geophysics, and Applied Mathematics among them - and incorporate frequent guest lectures and labs. The school's Experimental Mine has even been ranked the #1 Awesome Lab in the country for four years running. Between the low cost and high ROI (a whopping $726,000), MST really is one of the most affordable colleges in Missouri for ambitious students.

It's hard to know where to start with a school like the University of Missouri Kansas City. While some schools offer a clear strength in one area, colleges like UMKC seem to excel across the board. This makes UMKC not just one of the best universities in Missouri, but a simultaneous powerhouse and well-rounded jack-of-all-trades. This Missouri university has earned a community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation; has been ranked a military-friendly, gay-friendly, and environmentally friendly; and it has earned academic distinctions for its law, management, nursing, pharmacy, and public administration degrees. The university generally accepts about 64% of applicants, and with its growing popularity this figure is likely to become increasingly selective in the future.

This Missouri university is one of 28 Jesuit institutions of higher learning in the United States, and its connection with the nation's largest network of private colleges affords it some serious advantages. For one, the Jesuit approach to education - which fosters a genuine love of learning and emphasizes truth, inquiry, and philosophical curiosity - encourages students to make the most of their experience on campus, thinking about school as more than a conduit to a credential. In addition, Rockhurst makes a priority out of student engagement, and as a result it boasts some of the highest educational satisfaction ratings in the entire country. It's no surprise, then, that RU maintains a respectable 69% graduation rate and impressive $400k 20-year ROI.