Colleges in Missouri

With its eight-week course schedule and accelerated options, William Woods University is one of the most competitive online colleges in Missouri. Its courses encourage networking and collaboration among students, leading to an active and engaging learning experience. William Woods, located in Fulton, is a private, nonprofit university founded in 1870. The university's long history of serving adult learners feeds its commitment to providing quality online education for working professionals.

William Woods offers a tuition promise: No student's tuition will increase as long as they remain continuously enrolled. Bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies and business administration, along with seven master’s degrees, are available completely online.

Mizzou offers more than 100 online degree and certificate programs. Located in Columbia, the university provides more than 1,000 individual online courses that meet the same levels of rigor and quality as on-campus courses. Many of Mizzou's online courses are self-paced, allowing students to complete coursework at their convenience. Typically, students have eight weeks to six months to meet the requirements of self-paced courses.

Mizzou is dedicated to helping U.S. military members pursue degrees; scholarships and aid are available from numerous programs and grants. Mizzou's veterans center ensures military personnel find success in their studies.

Established in Rolla in 1870, Missouri S&T serves more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Its comprehensive distance education program makes it one of the top online schools in Missouri. Students choose from fully online certificate programs, master’s degrees, and PhD programs. Several non-degree options allow students to take courses online without enrolling in a specific department.

Missouri S&T offers deferred tuition for students working for companies that provide tuition reimbursement. The university will defer payments until four weeks after the term's final grades have been posted, making Missouri S&T an affordable option for working professionals.

Dedicated to the needs of lifelong learners, Stephens College in Columbia provides flexibility for working professionals pursuing degrees full-time or part-time. The school offers a fully online bachelor’s degree in health information administration and several part-time programs in a variety of disciplines, ideal for professionals who want to advance their careers or begin new ones. Although Stephens is a women’s college, its online and graduate programs are all co-ed.

Founded in 1833, Stephens is a respected private liberal arts institution. Online and continuing education students pay lower tuition rates than on-campus students. Most students qualify for scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.

As one of the premier online schools in Missouri, William Jewell College in Liberty offers distance education courses in areas including nursing, art, business, chemistry, and psychology. Jewell's online courses allow on-campus students to complete general education and major requirements according to their own schedules.

Students applying to Jewell must have a high school GPA of 3.0 and at least a 22 ACT score or 1100 SAT score. Transfer students must be in good standing with their previous college or university. Jewell offers generous aid packages, and nearly every student receives one or more scholarships. In 2015, Jewell awarded more than $20 million in grants and scholarships.

With more than 30 online bachelor’s degrees and graduate programs, Park University is regularly listed among the best online schools in Missouri. Park offers completely online degree programs in niche areas, such as military history, social psychology, and healthcare management. Comprehensive master’s degree programs are available in areas such as public administration, educational leadership, and the leadership of international healthcare organizations.

Park students benefit from affordable, per-credit tuition rates, with discounts available for active military members and veterans. An array scholarship opportunities are available for freshmen, student-athletes, members of military families, women and minorities, and students who demonstrate financial need.

Fontbonne University, a private Christian school in St. Louis, offers online programs and courses designed specifically for working professionals. These programs provide flexibility so students with personal and professional obligations can pursue their degree according to their schedule. Founded in 1923, Fontbonne is a co-ed liberal arts school with about 3,100 undergraduate and graduate students.

One of the most highly regarded online colleges in Missouri, Fontbonne offers interactive online courses that engage students with active settings and small class sizes. Online students receive resources and support from faculty members, who interact with students individually. Classes take place either asynchronously or during the evening.

Founded in 1858, Hannibal-LaGrange University is a private, liberal arts institution located in Hannibal, Missouri. The university offers accelerated master’s degree programs and several bachelor’s degree programs entirely online, giving students freedom and flexibility to complete course requirements according to their schedules. Majors and concentrations available fully online include education, business management, and nursing. Many on-campus HLGU students also incorporate online classes into their studies.

Students enrolled in HLGU's business management degree completion program can receive their bachelor’s degree in 18 months without ever stepping foot on campus. Students take one class at a time, and each class lasts five weeks.

Drury University in Springfield is often listed as one of the top online colleges in Missouri due to its broad range of associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs offered entirely online. One such program is the bachelor’s degree in organizational communication and development, which covers the effects of psychology, conflict resolution, marketing, and ethics on businesses and organizations.

Transfer students applying to a bachelor's program must have completed no more than 30 credits, and those applying to an associate program must have no more than 18 credits. Applicants must submit high school transcripts or GED scores. Drury has an acceptance rate of 81% and currently enrolls about 5,500 students.

City Vision's approach to higher learning distinguishes it from other online schools in Missouri. Based in Kansas City, the nonprofit private university's distance education programs train students for a variety of careers while helping them complete degrees quickly and affordably.

City Vision offers five undergraduate degrees, including two associate and three bachelor’s programs. Students may study business administration, Christian ministry and leadership, nonprofit management, urban missions, or addiction studies. Addiction studies students are prepared for careers as addiction counselors, who help people struggling with alcohol and drug-related problems. City Vision offers low tuition rates and was recently ranked as the 16th most affordable Christian college in the country.

Internationally recognized as a top-tier institution, Lindenwood is known for its flexible, convenient, affordable programs. Lindenwood offers more than 30 programs online, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and certificates, all of which are ideal for working professionals with busy schedules. Online programs focused on education include concentrations in educational technology, gifted and talented education, and early interventions for children with autism.

Lindenwood is located in St. Charles, Missouri, a community just outside St. Louis. The university serves more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students, both online and on campus. Applicants must submit high school and/or college transcripts.

University of Missouri-Kansas City offers an array of online degree programs that can be completed without any on-campus classes. Among UMKC's entirely online offerings are a bachelor’s of liberal arts degree, master’s degrees in dental hygiene education and nursing, and PhD programs in nursing, nursing practice, and school district leadership.

UMKC admits recent high school graduates based on their high school class rank and their ACT or SAT scores. Transfer students must have credits from an accredited institution and a minimum 2.0 GPA. However, those with a lower GPA may submit a petition for admission. UMKC charges per-credit tuition, and part-time students residing outside Missouri may apply for an out-of-state tuition waiver.

Located in Moberly, CCCB offers online bachelor’s degrees in religious studies and biblical studies. CCCB is a private institution founded in 1957 and is often regarded as one of the best Christian-based, online colleges in Missouri. Students may also earn an associate of biblical studies and certificates in the Bible and ministry. CCCB's eight-week online classes require 15 to 20 study hours each week. Online students access video and audio lectures through an online learning platform.

All online students pay the same per-credit tuition rate, regardless of whether they live in Missouri. CCCB awards numerous scholarships to help students fund their studies.

With its 10 online bachelor’s degree programs and two certificate programs, Missouri State is one of the most widely respected online colleges in Missouri. One of Missouri State's most notable programs is the BS in professional writing, which prepares students for careers related to business, law, education, healthcare, and government. Online students have access to comprehensive support services, including career counseling, financial aid assistance, and technical support.

All online students pay the same per-credit tuition rate, regardless of residency. Incoming freshmen must have a high school GPA of at least 2.0 and must have taken several prerequisite classes. Applicants are evaluated based on their high school class rank and ACT or SAT scores.

UCM offers entirely online undergraduate, graduate, and education specialist programs. UCM's distance education programs cover a wide variety of subjects, including aviation safety, industrial management, occupational education, library science, and crisis and disaster management. All online students pay the same tuition and fees, even if they live outside the state, making UCM one of the most affordable online schools in Missouri.

Incoming freshmen must submit ACT or SAT scores and high school transcripts. Transfer students must submit all college transcripts. UCM’s main campus is located in Warrensburg. The university offers professional development courses through ed2go, Dale Carnegie, and PBS Teacherline.

Meeting to the needs of all types of nontraditional students, Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau offers a variety of online bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, certificates, and specialist degrees. The variety and quality of these programs make SEMO one of the top online colleges in Missouri.

Individuals who are older than 21, those who are married, military veterans, and those supporting a minor child must submit high school transcripts or GED scores for admission to an online program.

SEMO provides resources for military veterans, including housing scholarships, tuition assistance, and other forms of financial aid. All current and former military members pay in-state tuition rates, regardless of state residency.

Known as one of the best online schools in Missouri, C-SC offers six bachelor’s degree programs and two master’s of business administration programs. Each program is delivered entirely online in an accelerated eight-week format. A popular online option is the BS in sports management, which prepares students for careers in youth, intercollegiate, and professional athletics.

Online C-SC students pay the same tuition rate, regardless of residency. Additionally, C-SC accepts monthly payments to help alleviate the stress of paying for college. C-SC is located in Canton, Missouri, and enrolls more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students, both on campus and online.

Northwest offers online bachelor’s degrees in business management and marketing, in addition to eight master’s degree programs. Northwest also offers online certificate programs in geographic information science and instructional technology.

Thanks to articulation agreements with various community colleges throughout the Midwest, Northwest is among the most popular online schools in Missouri. These agreements allow community college graduates to easily transfer into Northwest to continue their education.

Applicants must have an ACT score of 21 or higher and a 2.0 high school GPA. Transfer students who have completed at least 24 credits must have a minimum 2.0 college GPA.

Columbia College, founded in 1851 and located in Columbia, Missouri, offers several comprehensive online degree programs, including bachelor’s degrees in marketing, criminal justice, nursing, and psychology. CC also offers fully online associate, master’s, and certificate programs. CC's online programs operate on a “six sessions” model; students complete six eight-week sessions throughout the academic year.

All distance learners pay the same per-credit tuition rate, regardless of whether they reside in Missouri. CC is dedicated to serving the needs of active and retired military members. The college's virtual veteran services department assists students with issues related to GI Bill benefits.

A private liberal arts school located in St. Louis, MBU is one of the top online colleges in Missouri. The university offers top-tier accelerated online programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and approaches all subjects from a Christian perspective. Among its most popular degrees is the MS in corporate security leadership, which prepares students for careers as loss prevention specialists, chief security officers, and business continuity consultants.

MBU is known for its affordable online tuition. Online students pay the same per-credit rate, regardless of state residency. MBU has a generous transfer policy and accepts credits from most accredited colleges and universities nationwide.

Established in 1915, MCC is the oldest public higher education institution in Kansas City. The school delivers an associate of arts degree fully online. Online courses are available for other programs, allowing students to create a blended or hybrid degree. Students may take 1-4 online classes during each 16-week semester. Most courses are asynchronous, but some use scheduled livestreams.

Approximately 40% of MCC's student body are students of color. The college's Institute for Workforce Innovation trained 7,000 students between 2013 and 2016. MCC serves more than 100 companies, including General Motors and Honeywell. Residents of Massachusetts and California cannot enroll in online courses at MCC.