University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-Columbia — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Missouri-Columbia at a Glance
The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Founded in 1839, MU was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1908 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity."
1839
187 years old
$2.5B
$2.55 billion (2025) (system-wide)
31,543
24,449 undergrad · 7,094 grad
3,200
17:1 student:faculty
1,252 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to University of Missouri-Columbia
Official admissions page$55
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is University of Missouri-Columbia Worth It?
University of Missouri-Columbia offers moderate value at $20,268/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $63,403, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 76% graduation rate means roughly 24% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Missouri-Columbia compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #20 of 44 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #5 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #6 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #20 | University of Missouri-Columbia | 59 | $20,268 | $63,403 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Missouri-Columbia's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Missouri-Columbia
The highest-earning program at University of Missouri-Columbia is Computer Engineering at $68,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Natural Resources Conservation and Research at $20,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of Missouri-Columbia earns $68,300, while a Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduate earns $20,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $26,250 in median debt vs. $21,975 for Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $20,268/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $68,300 | $68,300 | $26,250 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,600 | $67,600 | $26,125 |
| Industrial Engineering | $65,600 | $65,600 | $26,327 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,200 | $64,200 | $22,873 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $60,900 | $60,900 | $26,855 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,400 | $57,400 | $27,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $55,000 | $55,000 | $22,083 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $55,000 | $55,000 | $20,122 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,900 | $54,900 | $27,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $54,700 | $54,700 | $25,000 |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | $48,400 | $48,400 | $23,025 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $46,800 | $46,800 | $21,987 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $43,500 | $43,500 | $18,500 |
| Economics | $41,800 | $41,800 | $22,993 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $39,700 | $39,700 | $21,500 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $38,900 | $38,900 | $26,000 |
| Housing and Human Environments | $38,300 | $38,300 | $23,936 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $37,600 | $37,600 | $19,500 |
| Journalism | $37,300 | $37,300 | $23,250 |
| Area Studies | $35,000 | $35,000 | $26,424 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,900 | $33,900 | $23,250 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $33,700 | $33,700 | $21,250 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,300 | $33,300 | $24,000 |
| Agriculture, General | $32,800 | $32,800 | $23,213 |
| Animal Sciences | $32,700 | $32,700 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | $32,300 | $32,300 | $25,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $32,100 | $32,100 | $22,325 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,000 | $32,000 | $19,689 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $31,800 | $31,800 | $25,500 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $31,500 | $31,500 | $23,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $31,400 | $31,400 | $24,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $30,800 | $30,800 | $21,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $29,200 | $29,200 | $23,999 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,900 | $28,900 | $23,208 |
| Psychology, General | $28,700 | $28,700 | $21,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $22,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $27,400 | $27,400 | $25,500 |
| Biology, General | $27,000 | $27,000 | $23,442 |
| History | $22,000 | $22,000 | $25,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $20,900 | $20,900 | $21,975 |
Similar Colleges in MO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Columbia, MO
- Student Body
- 23,929 students
- Admission Rate
- 78%
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $20,268
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,403
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500