By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 06/2025)

The University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri — also known as Mizzou — is the largest university in the four-campus University of Missouri system. It offers more than 300 degree programs across 13 major academic divisions, with acclaimed programs in business, health care, and journalism.

Total Cost of Attendance

For the 2024-25 school year, in-state undergraduate Mizzou tuition and fees were $14,837. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition costs $36,056. However, students can expect to pay additional expenses, which are shown in the table below.

Financial Aid

Based on student loan and scholarship information from the National Center for Education Statistics, 78% of students who attend the University of Missouri receive some kind of financial aid. Students received an average award of $11,824 in federal and institutional grants and scholarships. Students who demonstrated exceptional financial need received federal Pell Grants, with an average award of $5,114.

Explore financial aid options: Missouri Student Loans & Scholarships.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  U.S. Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Aside from gift-based financial aid, some enrolled students take out loans to cover the University of Missouri’s tuition and expenses. This includes private student loans. At Mizzou, 12% of students on average take out private loans, typically totalling $34,939 at graduation.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The cost of attending any college varies year over year. Based on the University of Missouri tuition for 2024-25, the projected total cost of a four-year degree at Mizzou is $132,180 for in-state students. Out-of-state students can expect to pay quite a bit more: $217,056 for a four-year degree.

For comparison, the average cost of a four-year degree for in-state students at a public institution is $115,360 and $186,920 for out-of-state students, according to College Data. As you see, a Mizzou education can be more expensive than the national average, especially for out of state students.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

The cost of tuition, fees, and books for in-state students is $15,832 for the 2024-25 academic year. For out-of-state residents, the total cost is $37,051 per year.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

The cost of tuition and fees for Missouri residents attending a Mizzou graduate program in 2024-25 was $13,681 per year. Out-of-state Mizzou graduate students paid $32,581. The average cost of one year of tuition for a master’s degree program for the same time period was $10,320 for a public university and $15,100 for a private nonprofit. Many students at Mizzou can opt for graduate loans to help cover these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

The cost for one credit hour for an undergraduate course for in-state students at Mizzou varies with the program a student is taking, but is typically around $440. The University’s fees are significantly higher for out-of-state students, typically more than twice as much.

Certificates

The MU Extension is the hub for Mizzou’s continuing education programming, which includes a variety of custom training classes, courses, and certifications in a wide range of industries and topics, from coding to supply chain management to veterinary continuing education and more. Prices vary depending on the topic, length of session, etc. For example, a 16-week online, graduate-level class in supply-chain management is $8,190, while other courses, such as language lessons, may be several hundred dollars.

Campus Housing Expenses

*Based on studio pricing. Average rate based on available apartments on University of Missouri’s off-campus housing website in 2025.

First-time students at the University of Missouri are required to live on campus and are assigned to a housing unit based on their Freshman Interest Groups (FIG) and learning community. There are dozens of different housing options for Mizzou students, including double and single community-style dormitories, suites, and apartment-style dwellings. After their first year, undergraduate students can choose to live off-campus.

Explore off-campus living options at Mizzou Off-Campus Housing .

Mizzou Acceptance Rate

Admission Requirements

Applications open to students on Aug. 1 for the next fall session (so you can start applying on Aug. 1, 2025 to attend Mizzou in the fall of 2026), and the school advises students to apply by Nov. 15 for the best chance at receiving scholarships. Here are the requirements to apply.

Required:

•  High school transcript

•  Completion of college-preparatory program

•  Test of English as a Foreign language, if needed

Not required, but considered:

•  High school GPA

•  Secondary school rank

SAT and ACT Scores

SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission to the University of Missouri. However, scores are considered for admission, if they’re submitted.

Though there are no required test scores for admissions, here are the scores by subject at the 25th and 75th percentile:

Popular Majors at University of Missouri

Mizzou offers more than 300 degree programs, including professional tracks. Here are the most popular:

1. Business

Students who enter University of Missouri’s business degree program can choose from different concentrations, such as finance and banking, international economics, marketing, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 792

2. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences

The general health sciences major prepares students for a nonclinical career path in medical case management, medical sales, and other roles. Students can select one of four areas of emphasis: health and wellness, leadership and policy, preprofessional, and rehabilitation sciences.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 528

3. Journalism

A number of the alumni of Mizzou’s journalism program have gone on to work for major publications and win Pulitzer prizes. Graduates work in a variety of communication-related careers, including media production, audience research, project management, and editing, to name a few.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 461

4. Psychology

The University of Missouri offers two undergraduate degree options in general psychology: A Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Sciences (BA) degree is for students interested in studying human behavior, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Sciences (BS) degree is for students interested in a more science-oriented curriculum.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 358

5. Biology/Biological Sciences

Students who are interested in biological sciences can choose between a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. The BS degree requires students to take more biology, chemistry, physics, and math classes. Mizzou biology grads go on to careers in a wide range of fields, including health care, biotech, and education.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 281

6. Nursing

Mizzou offers nursing students three tracks toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, including an accelerated program. With a registered nursing degree, students can work as an acute care nurse, RN, nursing instructor, and clinical nurse specialist.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 247

7. Accounting

Students who enter Mizzou’s accounting program learn about systems, skills, auditing, and corporate finance. Graduates go onto careers as auditors, credit analysts, financial examiners and more. The undergraduate and master’s degree programs are merged into a 150-credit curriculum that prepares students for careers as professional accountants in public accounting, business, or government.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 171

8. Speech Communication and Rhetoric

The speech, language and hearing sciences program at Mizzou offers practical clinical experience in addition to the core in-class curriculum. Grads go onto careers in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 162

9. Political Science and Government

Students in the Mizzou political science program have the option to focus on pre-law, giving them a general orientation for law school. Other political science grads go on to have careers in government, public relations, media, and consulting.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 152

10. Economics

After graduating, Mizzou alumni with an economics degree can get jobs in ​​business, consulting, finance, government, health care, nonprofits, technology, and a variety of other fields, or go on to earn a higher degree.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 132

Graduation Rate

Students who started at Mizzou in Fall 2017 had an overall graduation rate of 76%:

•  4 years: 56%

•  6 years: 76%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

The average annual earnings of University of Missouri graduates is $63,000, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. This prospective salary is somewhat under the national average of $68,516.

Who Is Considered a First-Time Homebuyer in Washington, D.C.?

For many of the Washington home mortgage loan assistance programs, you do not have to be a first-time homebuyer. You qualify as long as you do not currently own a home. That said, some of the programs do require that you have not owned a primary home in the past three years, which is the generally recognized definition of a first-time buyer.

Whether or not you’ve owned a home, it’s always a good idea to attend a homebuyer education program. And for some of the programs noted below, attendance is required. Homebuyer education can help all buyers understand how much mortgage they can afford, what fees are involved, and how the lending and closing processes work.

Recommended: First-Time Homebuyer Guide

4 Washington, D.C. Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) offers homebuyer and down payment programs to those who meet income and credit requirements and loan maximums.

Let’s take a closer look.

1. Open Doors Mortgage Program

Qualified first-time and repeat buyers can receive 30-year mortgages at below-market rates for the purchase of a home anywhere in Washington, D.C. You do not have to be a current district resident to apply.

To qualify, borrowers must have a credit score of 640 and an annual income of $275,400 or below. (This is not a household income number; it only applies to the buyer.) The mortgage amount cannot total more than $1,209,750, but there are no purchase price restrictions. Maximum debt-to-income ratios apply.

2. Open Doors Down Payment Assistance Loan

This is a no-interest, no-payment deferred loan used to pay the full amount of your required minimum down payment on an Open Doors primary mortgage. The loan comes due only when the house is sold or transferred, is no longer your principal residence, the mortgage is refinanced, or the 30-year mortgage term is up.

Requirements are the same as Open Doors primary mortgages, listed above.

3. DC4ME Program for Government Employees

The DC4Me program offers full-time D.C. government employees access to a first mortgage at a reduced interest rate and the option of down payment assistance worth 3% of the mortgage in the form of a 0% interest deferred loan.

To qualify, the borrower must be employed by the district, including independent agencies, public charter schools, and any organization that falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia. Unlike other DCHFA programs, eligible government employees must be a first-time buyer — meaning they do not currently own a home and have not owned a home in the past three years. Borrowers must also complete a home buying education course.

Like the other programs, a credit score of 640 is required. But unlike the other programs, there is a maximum household income (not just the borrower) of $275,400 and a stipulation that the maximum household income not exceed 170% of the area median income. The mortgage loan amount cannot exceed $1,209,750 and the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio may not exceed 50%.

4. Home Purchase Assistance Program

Interest-free loans are for first-time homebuyers (defined as those who have not had an ownership interest in any residential real estate within the three years prior to application). The household income must be within the very low-to-moderate level — up to 110% of area median income.

Borrowers may access up to $202,000 in down payment costs and $4,000 in closing costs as a second, zero-interest loan.

How much you receive and the terms of your repayment depend on your income and household size. For moderate-income households, payments are deferred for the first five years, then are amortized over 40 years. Low-income households will have no monthly payments. All loans are payable in full if you transfer or sell the property, refinance the primary mortgage, or rent out the house.

Recommended: Understanding the Different Types of Mortgage Loans

How to Apply to Washington, D.C. Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

You can find information about qualifications, applications, and requirements for loan programs at the DCHFA website .

You’ll also find a list of approved participating lenders who administer the loans and can help you apply.

It’s especially important for first-time buyers, who may be unfamiliar with the mortgage lending process, to compare interest rates, fees, and other costs among lenders.

To help with that process, D.C. Open Doors hosts homebuyer education sessions each month for free as well as free seminars outside of Open Doors.

Federal Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

Several federal government programs are designed for people who have low credit scores or limited cash for a down payment. Although most of these programs are available to repeat homeowners, like state programs, they can be especially helpful to people who are buying a first home or who haven’t owned a home in several years.

The mortgages are generally for single-family homes, two- to four-unit properties that will be owner occupied, approved condos, townhomes, planned unit developments, and some manufactured homes.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Loans

The FHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), insures mortgages for borrowers with lower credit scores. Homebuyers choose from a list of approved lenders that participate in the FHA loan program. Loans have competitive interest rates and require a down payment of 3.5% of the purchase price for borrowers, who typically need FICO^® credit scores of 580 or higher. Those with scores as low as 500 must put at least 10% down.

In addition to examining your credit score, lenders will look at your debt-to-income ratio (DTI, your monthly debt payments compared with your monthly gross income). FHA loans allow a DTI ratio of up to 57% in some cases, vs. a typical 45% maximum for a conventional loan.

Gift money for the down payment is allowed from certain donors and will be documented in a gift letter for the mortgage.

FHA loans always require mortgage insurance: a 1.75% upfront fee and annual premiums for the life of the loan, unless you make a down payment of at least 10%, which allows the removal of mortgage insurance after 11 years. For a $300,000 mortgage balance, upfront MIP would be around $5,250 and monthly MIP, at a rate of 0.55%, would be around $137. You can learn more about these loans, including FHA loans for refinance and rehab of properties, by reading up on FHA requirements, loan limits, and rates.

Freddie Mac Home Possible Mortgages

Very low- and low-income borrowers may make a 3% down payment on a Home Possible^® mortgage. These loans allow various sources for down payments, including co-borrowers, family gifts, employer assistance, secondary financing, and sweat equity.

The Home Possible mortgage is for buyers who have a credit score of at least 660.

Once you pay 20% of your loan, the Home Possible mortgage insurance will be canceled, which will lower your mortgage payments.

Fannie Mae HomeReady Mortgages

Fannie Mae HomeReady^® Mortgages allow down payments as low as 3% for low-income borrowers. Applicants generally need a credit score of at least 620; pricing may be better for credit scores of 680 and above. Like the Freddie Mac program, HomeReady loans allow flexibility for down payment financing, such as gifts and grants.

For income limits, a comparison to an FHA loan, and other information, go to this Fannie Mae site .

Fannie Mae Standard 97 LTV Loan

The conventional 97 LTV loan is for first-time homebuyers of any income level who have a credit score of at least 620 and meet debt-to-income criteria. The 97% loan-to-value mortgage requires 3% down. Borrowers can get down payment and closing cost assistance from third-party sources.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loans

Eligible active-duty members of the military, veterans, reservists, and surviving spouses may apply for loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you think you might be eligible, take time to learn what a VA loan is. It can be used to buy, build, or improve homes. It has a lower interest rate than most other mortgages and doesn’t require a down payment. Most borrowers pay a one-time funding fee that can be rolled into the mortgage.

Another benefit of VA loans is that they do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI) for borrowers who make a down payment of less than 20%. And they have more flexible credit score requirements. In some cases, even those who have previously been in foreclosure or bankruptcy can qualify.

Borrowers applying for a VA loan will need a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA so make sure to review a guide to qualifying for a VA loan as a first step in the process.

Native American Veteran Direct Loans (NADLs)

Eligible Native American veterans and their spouses may use these no-down-payment loans to buy, improve, or build a home on federal trust land. Unlike VA loans listed above, the Department of Veterans Affairs is the mortgage lender on NADLs. The VA requires no mortgage insurance, but it does charge a funding fee.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Loans

No down payment is required on these loans to moderate-income borrowers that are guaranteed by the USDA in specified rural areas. Borrowers pay an upfront guarantee fee and an annual fee that serves as mortgage insurance.

The USDA also directly issues loans to low- and very low-income people. For loan basics and income and property eligibility, head to this USDA site .

HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program

This program helps police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and teachers qualify for mortgages in the areas they serve. Borrowers can receive 50% off a home in what HUD calls a “revitalization area.” They must live in the home for at least three years. For more information, visit the HUD program page.

Washington, D.C. First-Time Homebuyer Stats for 2025

•   Median home sale price in Washington, D.C.: $741,000

•   3% down payment: $22,230

•   20% down payment: $148,200

•   Percentage of buyers nationwide who are first-time buyers: 24%

•   Median age of first-time homebuyers: 38

•   Average credit score (vs. average U.S. score of 715): 715