Is the University of Missouri a Good School?

The University of Missouri (also referred to as UM or Mizzou) is a public research university in Columbia, Missouri.

It’s the largest in Missouri and also the flagship school of the 4-institution University of Missouri System.

UM is given these college rankings by US News: #121 in National Universities and #56 in Top Public Schools.

About 75% of all attendees are undergrads.

Almost 100 majors are being offered by the University of Missouri, and some of the most popular of those are business, communications, nursing, and minority and ethnic studies.

It has an acceptance rate of 77% and rolling admissions.

At UM, tuition and fees amount to $11,549 (in-state) and $30,929 (out-of-state). Up to 51% of freshmen get need-based aid.

Mizzou Facts

Check out the following quick stats about the school:

Location: Columbia, Missouri
Founding date: 1839
Motto: Salus populi suprema lex esto (let the welfare of the people be the supreme law)
Campus size: 1,262 acres
Campus type: City
School type: Conservative public land-grant research university
Reputation: Party school
Selectivity level: Less selective
Number of majors: 97
Popular majors: Business, Journalism, Minority and Ethnic Studies, Nursing, Psychology
Student body: 31,103 (as per Common Data Set 2020 to 2021)
Students per class: 10 to 19 in most classes
Student-to-faculty ratio: 18:1
Retention rate: 89%
Graduation rate: 69%
Athletic affiliation: NCAA Division I
Color: Black and gold
Mascot: Truman the Tiger
Number of varsity teams: 20
Sports: Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling

University of Missouri Ranking

The University of Missouri is a highly ranked public institution. In fact, it’s #58 in Top Public Schools by US News.

On the other hand, College Simply, which is another college ranking site, ranks UM #69 in Best Public Colleges in the US.

As a flagship school, it’s considered the best in Missouri.

In the country, there is no denying that the University of Missouri outshines many public institutions ranking-wise.

Meanwhile, on a global scale, the school is #476 in the QS World University Rankings, climbing seven spots from the previous year.

Meanwhile, it’s #425 in Best Global Universities by US News.

Here are some of the local rankings of Mizzou by various college rankers:

#1 in Top Public Universities in Missouri (Niche)
#2 in Best Public Colleges in Missouri (College Simply)
#4 in Best Colleges in Missouri (College Factual)
#4 in Best Colleges in Missouri (College Simply)
#5 in Best Colleges in Missouri (Best Colleges)
#5 in Best Value Colleges in Missouri (Niche)
#9 in Best Colleges and Universities in Missouri (College Consensus)
#20 in the Midwest (Forbes)

What is the University of Missouri Known For?

The University of Missouri is known for being a high-ranking school in the Show-Me State. Most students who apply to it like the fact that there are more than 300 degree programs available.

Mizzou is known for having a big campus with an equally big Greek life, which is why it’s a top party school.

Want a degree and a great college experience, too?

Consider adding the University of Missouri to your college list.

Besides being a highly ranked public institution nationally and locally, UM is also known for being a party school.

As a matter of fact, Niche ranks it #1 in Top Party Schools in Missouri and #42 in Top Party Schools in America.

I have loved my time at Mizzou. I could build lasting friendships with my peers while learning more than I ever thought possible. For having 30,000+ students, Mizzou still feels like a small school. They have gone above and beyond and I appreciate that. … Mizzou truly is a hidden gem in the college game.
Niche.com

Refrain from assuming that Mizzou students only unwind by drinking and dancing.

The school has over 600 registered clubs and organizations, each with its own events and programs.

However, since Greek life is a huge part of the University of Missouri campus, some of the brightest are fraternities and sororities.

As mentioned earlier, more than 300 degree programs and nearly 100 majors are available for students to choose from.

Some of the most popular fields of study/majors at UM include:

Agricultural Sciences
Biology
Business
Communications
Education
Health Service Preparatory Studies
Information Technology
Journalism
Liberal Arts and Humanities
Mechanical Engineering
Minority and Ethnic Studies
Nursing
Psychology
Social Sciences
Sports Management

Sports is also quite big at the University of Missouri. To date, the school has won a couple of national championships, four division titles and 15 conference titles.

Acceptance Rate at the University of Missouri

The vast majority of applicants to the University of Missouri end up getting an offer to enroll.

With an acceptance rate of 81%, Mizzou is a less selective academic institution.

Based on the percentage of admits alone, the school is #32 in the state of Missouri for having the lowest acceptance rate.

Looking for a high-ranking public institution that would make for a phenomenal match or safety school?

Then make sure that a slot on your college list is reserved for the University of Missouri.

That’s because your chances of receiving an acceptance letter from its admissions office is high — it has an 81% acceptance rate.

Like many colleges and universities, UM does not have a published minimum GPA requirement aspirants need to meet.

However, according to the school’s website, having good grades is important in order to be eligible for admission.

On the other hand, applicants need to meet a minimum SAT or ACT score requirement.

The minimum score to have varies from one student to the other, depending on whether the high school uses a ranking system or not.

Also, the school, like many others, superscores test scores.

Here are the minimum SAT or ACT scores to meet if your high school ranks its students:

CLASS RANK	SAT	ACT
Any rank with 2.0+ core GPA	1160+	24+
Top 52%	1130 to 1150	23
Top 46%	1100 to 1120	22
Top 38%	1060 to 1090	21
Top 31%	1030 to 1050	20
Top 22%	990 to 1020	19
Top 14%	960 to 980	18
Top 6%	920 to 950	17

And now, the following are the minimum test scores if your high school has no ranking system:

CORE GPA	SAT	ACT
2.0+	1160+	24+
2.8	1130 to 1150	23
2.9	1100 to 1120	22
3.05	1060 to 1090	21
3.2	1030 to 1050	20
3.35	990 to 1020	19
3.5	960 to 980	18
3.65	920 to 950	17

The University of Missouri has rolling admissions.

For applicants, this means that there are no application deadlines to beat. And for the school, it means that its admissions officers evaluate applications as they arrive.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend the University of Missouri?

Based on the last academic year rate, the sticker price of the University of Missouri amounts to $27,197 for in-state students.

For non-Missouri residents, however, the cost climbs to $45,068. The tuition alone is almost three times more expensive for out-of-state students — $26,991 vs. $9,120.

In the state of Missouri, the average in-state tuition and fees at public colleges and universities cost $9,059. Meanwhile, out-of-state tuition and fees cost $12,250 on average.

Based on the figures above, attending Mizzou is just a little more expensive than most public institutions in the Show-Me State.

For this reason, the University of Missouri is #4 in Best Value Colleges in Missouri by College Simply, #5 in Best Value Colleges in Missouri by Niche, and #72 in Best Value Schools by US News.

The following is the breakdown of the estimated cost of attending UM for one year:

EXPENSES	IN-STATE COSTS	OUT-OF-STATE COSTS
Tuition	$9,120	$26,991
Fee	$1,357	$1,357
Books and supplies	$1,260	$1,260
Room and board	$10,508	$10,508
Miscellaneous	$4,952	$4,952
TOTAL	$27,197	$45,068

According to data available online, up to 74% of Mizzou undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. Each awardee gets an average of $10,270.

Is Mizzou a Good School

The University of Missouri is a good school, which is evidenced by its high rankings nationally and locally.

It’s ideal for students who wish to earn a degree on a large campus with a city setting and among a diverse studentry that likes a good balance of quality education and active social life.

Here’s a Mizzou fact that could make most other campuses go green with envy: the entire campus of the University of Missouri is one massive botanical garden.

Referred to as the Mizzou Botanic Garden (MUBG), it houses thousands of medicinal or therapeutic plants suited to central Missouri.

The University of Missouri is a large campus offering a wide variety of programs and majors.

It’s highly ranked, too, not only based on academics and value but also Greek life and party scene.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the College Reality Check. 