University of Missouri Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 05/2023)

Total Cost of Attendance

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. For the 2022-23 school year, in-state undergraduate Mizzou tuition and fees was $11,981. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition costs $31,970. However, students can expect to pay additional expenses, which are shown in the table below.

Costs for 2022-23

Financial Aid

Based on student loan and scholarship information from the National Center for Education Statistics, 91% of first-time freshman students who attended the University of Missouri in 2020-21 received some kind of financial aid. Students received an average award of $11,312 in federal and institutional grants and scholarships. Students who demonstrated exceptional financial need received federal Pell Grants, with an average award of $4,528.

Explore financial aid options: Missouri Student Loan & Scholarships.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that 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 non-profit 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:

•  US 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, 8% of students took out a private loan for the 2021-22 school year, amounting to an average of $16,554.

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 as it generally may have 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 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 2023-24, the projected total cost of a four-year degree at Mizzou is $53,682 for in-state students. Out-of-state students can expect to pay quite a bit more: $141,526 for a four-year degree. For comparison, in 2022-23, the average cost of a four-year degree for in-state students at a public institution is $43,800 and $112,960 for out-of-state students, according to the College Board.

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

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

The total cost of attendance for in-state students — including tuition, fees, and room and board — is $22,871 for the 2022-23 academic year. For out-of-state residents the total cost is $42,860 per year.

For comparison, in the U.S., the average cost of attendance for an undergraduate in-state student is $26,027. For non-residents, the cost is $44,807.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

The cost of tuition and fees for Missouri residents attending a Mizzou graduate program in 2022-23 was $11,794. Out-of-state Mizzou graduate students paid $29,952. Based on data from the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of one year of a two-year master’s degree was $31,325. Many students at Mizzou 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 was $335.80 for the 2022-23 academic year. The non-resident cost for a credit hour was $1,014.70, which includes the base cost per credit-hour plus a non-resident fee. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, which means earning a degree from the University of Missouri costs $40,296 for in-state students and $121,764 for out-of-state students.

Certificates

The MU Extension is the hub for Mizzou’s continuing education programming, which includes a variety of custom trainings, 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 class in supply-chain management is $1,626, while Advanced Oral French, a 16-week continuing education class for teachers is $500.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2022-23

*Based on studio pricing. Average rate based on available apartments on University of Missouri’s off-campus housing website in 2023.

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 25 different housing options for Mizzou students, including double and single community-style dormitories, suites, and apartment-style dwellings. Room and board at Mizzou was $10,890 for the 2022-23 school year. After their first year, undergraduate students can choose to live off-campus. According to the Mizzou off-campus housing site, the average rent for a studio apartment in Columbia, Missouri, is $479 and a one-bedroom is $709.

Mizzou Acceptance Rate

Fall 2023

Admission Requirements

Applications open to students on Aug. 1 for the next fall session (so you can start applying on Aug. 1, 2023 to attend Mizzou in the fall of 2024), and the school advises students to apply by Nov. 15 for the best chance at receiving scholarships. To be eligible to apply to attend Mizzou, prospective students must complete 17 specific high school courses with good grades and achieve certain minimum test scores (see below). They can also apply without test scores if they instead submit short essay questions as part of the process.

Required:

•  High school transcript

•  Completion of college-preparatory program

•  Test of English as a Foreign language, if needed

Recommended:

•  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 2021-22: 627

2. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences

The general health sciences major prepares students for a non-clinical 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, pre-professional, and rehabilitation sciences.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 439

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 2021-22: 390

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 2021-22: 278

5. 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 2021-22: 210

6. 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 healthcare, biotech, and education.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 210

7. Speech Communication and Rhetoric

HThe 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 2021-22: 184

8. 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 2021-22: 141

9. Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical engineering program offers courses in dynamic systems, machine element design, and mechanical sciences. After graduating, Mizzou alumni with a mechanical engineering degree can get jobs in electronics engineering, aerospace engineering, and other industries.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 127

10. 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 2021-22: 116

Graduation Rate

Students who started at Mizzou in fall 2014 had the following graduation rates:

•  4 years: 50%

•  6 years: 73%

•  8 years: 74%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

The average annual earnings of University of Missouri graduates is $61,073, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. This prospective salary exceeds the national average starting salary of $55,260 for those who attend a four-year institution.