2026 Best Teaching Schools in Missouri
Looking for the best Teaching degree programs in Missouri? This list ranks 140 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Teaching Degree Search reviewed 116 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Teaching Degree Schools in Missouri
Here are the top-ranked schools:
University Of Missouri Columbia tops our 2026 ranking of the best Teaching degree schools in Missouri. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. University Of Missouri Columbia Teaching students take on a median of $21,818 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Columbia
A rank of #2 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the top choices in Missouri. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete their Teaching program here. Get the full Saint Louis University Main Campus report
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #3 on this year's Teaching ranking in Missouri. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a private not-for-profit school based in Fayette, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,500. Graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Get the full Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies report
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #4 on this year's Teaching ranking in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Louis, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete their Teaching program here. More on Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Out of the 116 schools in Missouri in this year's ranking, Truman State University landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Kirksville, MO. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. The median Teaching program debt is $23,168. Read more about Truman State University
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Based in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Northwest Missouri State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,585 in student loans. Get the full Northwest Missouri State University report
Webster University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,750. The median Teaching program debt is $25,939. Read the full report on Webster University
William Woods University landed the #8 spot in Missouri this year. William Woods University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fulton, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,340. Graduates carry a median of $25,512 in student loans. See the full William Woods University profile
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #9 in this year's ranking. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school based in Saint Louis, MO. About 57% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,943. Get the full University Of Missouri St Louis report
Rockhurst University placed #10 among Teaching schools in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,966. Rockhurst University Teaching students take on a median of $24,111 in debt. Read the full report on Rockhurst University
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Kansas City, MO, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. University Of Missouri Kansas City Teaching students take on a median of $23,741 in debt. More on University Of Missouri Kansas City
Evangel University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Based in Springfield, MO, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $28,548 in tuition and fees. Evangel University Teaching students take on a median of $24,876 in debt. See the full Evangel University profile
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Based in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Missouri State University Springfield posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete their Teaching program here. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Avila University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Kansas City, MO, Avila University is a private not-for-profit institution. Avila University posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,200. Avila University Teaching students take on a median of $29,750 in debt. Read the full report on Avila University
Lindenwood University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Located in Saint Charles, MO, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,600. Typical Teaching student debt is $28,663. Read the full report on Lindenwood University
University Of Central Missouri did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Warrensburg, MO, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. University Of Central Missouri Teaching students take on a median of $24,304 in debt. More on University Of Central Missouri
Fontbonne University placed #17 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Fontbonne University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fontbonne University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,976. Graduates carry a median of $33,503 in student loans. More on Fontbonne University
Missouri Baptist University landed the #18 spot in Missouri this year. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Missouri Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Missouri Baptist University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,122. The median Teaching program debt is $27,337. Get the full Missouri Baptist University report
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences landed the #19 spot in Missouri this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fayette, MO. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,620. Typical Teaching student debt is $24,633. Get the full Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences report
Missouri Western State University did well this year, earning the #20 position. This public school is set in Saint Joseph, MO. Missouri Western State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Read the full report on Missouri Western State University
Southeast Missouri State University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Southeast Missouri State University graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. The median Teaching program debt is $23,289. Read more about Southeast Missouri State University
Culver Stockton College landed the #22 spot in Missouri this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Canton, MO. Culver Stockton College posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,875. Students borrow a median of $27,252 to complete their Teaching program here. See the full Culver Stockton College profile
Missouri Southern State University landed the #23 spot in Missouri this year. This public school is set in Joplin, MO. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Missouri Southern State University Teaching students take on a median of $22,241 in debt. More on Missouri Southern State University
Southwest Baptist University placed #24 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bolivar, MO. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,566. The median Teaching program debt is $24,436. Get the full Southwest Baptist University report
Park University placed #25 among Teaching schools in Missouri. This private not-for-profit school is set in Parkville, MO. Park University posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. The median Teaching program debt is $22,112. See the full Park University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Teaching Degree Schools in Missouri
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Lincoln University Missouri came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Based in Jefferson City, MO, Lincoln University Missouri is a public institution. Lincoln University Missouri graduates 20% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,796, while out-of-state students pay about $17,692. Graduates carry a median of $32,831 in student loans. See the full Lincoln University Missouri profile
Drury University landed the #27 spot in Missouri this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Springfield, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Students from in state pay about $36,745 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete their Teaching program here. Get the full Drury University report
Arizona College Of Nursing St Louis did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Arizona College Of Nursing St Louis
American Trade School landed the #29 spot in Missouri this year. See the full American Trade School profile
Evangel University James River Assembly Of God Church did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Evangel University James River Assembly Of God Church
Warrensburg Area Career Center ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Read the full report on Warrensburg Area Career Center
Academy Of Salon Professionals came in at #32 in this year's ranking. See the full Academy Of Salon Professionals profile
Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Kansas City University Of Medicine And Biosciences
University Of Missouri System Office placed #34 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Read more about University Of Missouri System Office
Cass Career Center came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Cass Career Center report
Carthage R9 School District Carthage Technical Center placed #36 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Read the full report on Carthage R9 School District Carthage Technical Center
East Central College landed the #37 spot in Missouri this year. Read more about East Central College
Moberly Area Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. See the full Moberly Area Community College profile
Healing Arts Center came in at #39 in this year's ranking. See the full Healing Arts Center profile
Ea La Mars Cosmetology And Barber College landed the #40 spot in Missouri this year. Read the full report on Ea La Mars Cosmetology And Barber College
Independence College Of Cosmetology placed #41 among Teaching schools in Missouri. See the full Independence College Of Cosmetology profile
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Ozarks Technical Community College
South Central Career Center did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full South Central Career Center profile
Neosho Beauty College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Neosho Beauty College
Concorde Career Colleges placed #45 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Get the full Concorde Career Colleges report
William Jewell College placed #46 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Read more about William Jewell College
House Of Heavilin Beauty College Kansas City did well this year, earning the #47 position. More on House Of Heavilin Beauty College Kansas City
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri placed #48 among Teaching schools in Missouri. Read the full report on Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri
A T Still University Of Health Sciences ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. See the full A T Still University Of Health Sciences profile
Renaissance Beauty Academy landed the #50 spot in Missouri this year. Read the full report on Renaissance Beauty Academy
More Teaching Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 116 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 140 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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