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Most affordable public universities in Missouri

15 public universities in Missouri report net price data, ranging from $6,053 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $12,798. Missouri's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Missouri

$12,798

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Missouri

15

The most affordable public universities in Missouri, ranked by net price

1

Ozarks Technical Community College

MO

Net price

$6,053

Receive grant aid

91%

2

Saint Louis Community College

MO

Net price

$7,173

Receive grant aid

75%

3

Harris-Stowe State University

MO

Net price

$9,302

Receive grant aid

100%

4

Missouri Southern State University

MO

Net price

$11,264

Receive grant aid

91%

5

University of Missouri-St Louis

MO

Net price

$11,577

Receive grant aid

99%

6

Lincoln University

MO

Net price

$12,673

Receive grant aid

67%

7

Missouri Western State University

MO

Net price

$12,764

Receive grant aid

95%

8

Truman State University

MO

Net price

$12,798

Receive grant aid

100%

9

University of Missouri-Kansas City

MO

Net price

$14,201

Receive grant aid

90%

10

Missouri University of Science and Technology

MO

Net price

$14,414

Receive grant aid

97%

11

Southeast Missouri State University

MO

Net price

$14,843

Receive grant aid

93%

12

Northwest Missouri State University

MO

Net price

$15,497

Receive grant aid

96%

13

University of Central Missouri

MO

Net price

$15,728

Receive grant aid

96%

14

Missouri State University-Springfield

MO

Net price

$17,104

Receive grant aid

89%

15

University of Missouri-Columbia

MO

Net price

$20,006

Receive grant aid

84%

What makes a school affordable here

In Missouri, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Ozarks Technical Community College, the most affordable on this list, 91% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Missouri, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →