State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Missouri
According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 115 Missouri colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.
- $1,699
- Cheapest net price
- $17,598
- Missouri median
- 115
- Schools ranked
Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Kirksville Area Technical Center has the lowest average net price in Missouri at $1,699/year, and the state's median net price is 3% above the $17,083 national median across 4,942 schools.
- $1,699
- cheapest ranked net price
- $17,598
- Missouri median net price
- 41 public / 74 private
- schools in this ranking
- $15,889
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Washington University in St Louis, where in-state published tuition of $65,790 falls to an average net price of $21,786 after aid, a $44,004 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Missouri schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.
Across all 115 ranked Missouri schools, 41 are public institutions and 74 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.
Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.
Missouri's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirksville Area Technical Center Kirksville, MO · Public | $1,699 95% of the leader · rank #1 | Aid covers full cost | - | $38,997 | 21 |
| 2 | St Charles Community College Cottleville, MO · Public | $5,837 82% of the leader · rank #2 | $3,436 | $6,187 | $37,087 | 5,902 |
| 3 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofit | $6,100 81% of the leader · rank #3 | $6,381 | - | $36,507 | 1,427 |
| 4 | Central College of Cosmetology Saint Robert, MO · Private for-profit | $6,166 81% of the leader · rank #4 | $6,166 | - | $13,032 | 48 |
| 5 | Lex La-Ray Technical Center Lexington, MO · Public | $6,219 80% of the leader · rank #5 | $447 | - | $50,399 | 22 |
| 6 | Salem College of Hairstyling Rolla, MO · Private for-profit | $6,345 80% of the leader · rank #6 | $6,345 | - | $15,719 | 32 |
| 7 | Moberly Area Community College Moberly, MO · Public | $6,810 79% of the leader · rank #7 | $5,688 | $10,658 | $33,563 | 4,997 |
| 8 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO · Public | $6,936 78% of the leader · rank #8 | $6,217 | $10,453 | $32,525 | 11,036 |
| 9 | New Dimensions School of Hair Design Joplin, MO · Private for-profit | $7,309 77% of the leader · rank #9 | $7,142 | - | $18,201 | 34 |
| 10 | Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO · Public | $7,378 77% of the leader · rank #10 | $6,048 | $9,285 | $34,913 | 3,769 |
| 11 | State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO · Public | $7,985 75% of the leader · rank #11 | $7,288 | $10,500 | $32,659 | 3,754 |
| 12 | Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Lee'S Summit, MO · Public | $8,398 74% of the leader · rank #12 | $7,279 | $10,073 | $35,026 | 12,994 |
| 13 | Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO · Public | $8,440 73% of the leader · rank #13 | $7,469 | $6,725 | $30,242 | 14,627 |
| 14 | Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff, MO · Public | $8,496 73% of the leader · rank #14 | $8,236 | $10,000 | $29,566 | 2,682 |
| 15 | Crowder College Neosho, MO · Public | $9,023 72% of the leader · rank #15 | $8,283 | $9,000 | $31,698 | 3,865 |
| 16 | Warrensburg Area Career Center Warrensburg, MO · Public | $9,266 71% of the leader · rank #16 | - | - | $36,872 | 23 |
| 17 | Missouri State University-West Plains West Plains, MO · Public | $9,750 69% of the leader · rank #17 | $9,115 | $10,000 | $30,926 | 1,726 |
| 18 | Harris-Stowe State University Saint Louis, MO · Public | $9,922 69% of the leader · rank #18 | $9,827 | $25,930 | $26,634 | 1,098 |
| 19 | Grabber School of Hair Design Saint Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $10,827 66% of the leader · rank #19 | $7,674 | $7,830 | $25,573 | 244 |
| 20 | Grand River Technical School Chillicothe, MO · Public | $11,831 63% of the leader · rank #20 | $11,011 | - | $39,227 | 39 |
| 21 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO · Public | $12,007 62% of the leader · rank #21 | $9,759 | $19,174 | $37,866 | 4,090 |
| 22 | Mineral Area College Park Hills, MO · Public | $12,045 62% of the leader · rank #22 | $10,977 | $10,500 | $31,300 | 2,389 |
| 23 | Neosho Beauty College Neosho, MO · Private for-profit | $12,213 62% of the leader · rank #23 | $11,236 | $9,500 | $28,896 | 62 |
| 24 | Renaissance Beauty Academy Cape Girardeau, MO · Private for-profit | $12,595 60% of the leader · rank #24 | $10,802 | - | - | 68 |
| 25 | Truman State University Kirksville, MO · Public | $12,780 60% of the leader · rank #25 | $6,046 | $21,000 | $43,966 | 3,636 |
See all 115 ranked Missouri schools →
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | East Central College Union, MO · Public | $13,128 59% of the leader · rank #26 | $12,281 | $9,500 | $33,017 | 2,638 |
| 27 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph, MO · Public | $13,251 58% of the leader · rank #27 | $11,243 | $19,968 | $37,499 | 3,817 |
| 28 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Public | $13,310 58% of the leader · rank #28 | $10,576 | $18,750 | $50,298 | 15,277 |
| 29 | The Salon Professional Academy-St Charles Saint Charles, MO · Private for-profit | $13,388 58% of the leader · rank #29 | $9,498 | $8,589 | $26,030 | 117 |
| 30 | Academy of Salon Professionals Sedalia, MO · Private for-profit | $13,391 58% of the leader · rank #30 | $13,391 | $9,833 | $18,649 | 46 |
| 31 | Paul Mitchell the School-Missouri Columbia Columbia, MO · Private for-profit | $13,460 58% of the leader · rank #31 | $12,839 | $9,500 | $25,938 | 149 |
| 32 | North Central Missouri College Trenton, MO · Public | $13,626 57% of the leader · rank #32 | $11,951 | $10,500 | $36,289 | 1,847 |
| 33 | Cottey College Nevada, MO · Private nonprofit | $13,805 57% of the leader · rank #33 | $14,093 | $19,043 | $32,903 | 266 |
| 34 | City Pointe Beauty Academy Webb City, MO · Private for-profit | $14,178 55% of the leader · rank #34 | $12,770 | $7,641 | $22,355 | 102 |
| 35 | WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $14,277 55% of the leader · rank #35 | $13,446 | $7,917 | $28,506 | 179 |
| 36 | Central Christian College of the Bible Moberly, MO · Private nonprofit | $14,356 55% of the leader · rank #36 | $10,548 | $17,500 | $30,223 | 183 |
| 37 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO · Public | $14,462 55% of the leader · rank #37 | $10,965 | $21,000 | $41,593 | 12,788 |
| 38 | Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies Fayette, MO · Private nonprofit | $14,601 54% of the leader · rank #38 | $14,601 | $17,619 | $43,860 | 3,601 |
| 39 | Urshan College Wentzville, MO · Private nonprofit | $14,779 54% of the leader · rank #39 | $13,314 | - | - | 514 |
| 40 | Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics Jefferson City, MO · Private for-profit | $14,982 53% of the leader · rank #40 | $14,982 | $7,671 | $22,997 | 88 |
| 41 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis, MO · Public | $15,071 53% of the leader · rank #41 | $13,031 | $20,000 | $47,564 | 14,800 |
| 42 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO · Public | $15,190 52% of the leader · rank #42 | $11,566 | $10,986 | $48,921 | 2,259 |
| 43 | WellSpring School of Allied Health-Springfield Springfield, MO · Private for-profit | $15,417 52% of the leader · rank #43 | $14,184 | $7,917 | $28,506 | 79 |
| 44 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO · Public | $15,882 50% of the leader · rank #44 | $12,704 | $21,500 | $38,150 | 9,686 |
| 45 | Academy of Hair Design-Springfield Springfield, MO · Private for-profit | $15,904 50% of the leader · rank #45 | $13,897 | $9,500 | $21,250 | 267 |
| 46 | Avila University Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | $16,053 50% of the leader · rank #46 | $15,694 | $25,000 | $48,975 | 1,733 |
| 47 | Cass Career Center Harrisonville, MO · Public | $16,078 49% of the leader · rank #47 | $16,738 | - | $46,168 | 20 |
| 48 | Pike-Lincoln Technical Center Eolia, MO · Public | $16,125 49% of the leader · rank #48 | $16,125 | $9,500 | $52,252 | 35 |
| 49 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO · Public | $16,244 49% of the leader · rank #49 | $13,176 | $21,500 | $41,695 | 9,664 |
| 50 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO · Public | $16,298 49% of the leader · rank #50 | $10,912 | $23,250 | $69,295 | 7,156 |
| 51 | Calvary University Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | $16,334 49% of the leader · rank #51 | $16,764 | $20,839 | $33,144 | 262 |
| 52 | Trend Setters School Cape Girardeau, MO · Private for-profit | $16,521 48% of the leader · rank #52 | $16,521 | $10,667 | $19,844 | 69 |
| 53 | Carthage R9 School District-Carthage Technical Center Carthage, MO · Public | $16,874 47% of the leader · rank #53 | $15,180 | - | $47,916 | 17 |
| 54 | Paul Mitchell the School-Springfield Springfield, MO · Private for-profit | $16,926 47% of the leader · rank #54 | $16,925 | $7,917 | $19,178 | 263 |
| 55 | Aesthetics Institute St. Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $16,929 47% of the leader · rank #55 | - | - | - | 16 |
| 56 | Skin Institute Saint Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $17,400 45% of the leader · rank #56 | $17,400 | - | $30,457 | 83 |
| 57 | William Jewell College Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit | $17,562 45% of the leader · rank #57 | $12,909 | $24,498 | $54,197 | 886 |
| 58 | Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center Cape Girardeau, MO · Public | $17,598 45% of the leader · rank #58 | $15,719 | $8,750 | $43,113 | 212 |
| 59 | Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO · Public | $17,613 45% of the leader · rank #59 | $13,718 | $21,992 | $40,553 | 23,418 |
| 60 | American Trade School Saint Ann, MO · Private for-profit | $17,618 45% of the leader · rank #60 | $17,421 | - | $39,492 | 140 |
| 61 | Ea La Mar's Cosmetology & Barber College Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $17,823 44% of the leader · rank #61 | $17,823 | $11,960 | - | 32 |
| 62 | Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO · Private nonprofit | $18,086 43% of the leader · rank #62 | $16,132 | $25,950 | $36,902 | 1,619 |
| 63 | Midwest Institute Earth City, MO · Private for-profit | $18,509 42% of the leader · rank #63 | $18,509 | $9,500 | $31,483 | 151 |
| 64 | Evangel University Springfield Battlefield, MO · Private nonprofit | $18,669 41% of the leader · rank #64 | $16,198 | $24,736 | $39,332 | 2,157 |
| 65 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $18,795 41% of the leader · rank #65 | $16,849 | $12,000 | $51,342 | 1,696 |
| 66 | Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO · Public | $19,092 40% of the leader · rank #66 | $20,070 | $28,875 | $32,185 | 1,799 |
| 67 | Stevens-The Institute of Business & Arts Saint Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $19,137 40% of the leader · rank #67 | $19,137 | $27,000 | $25,898 | 95 |
| 68 | Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cape Girardeau, MO · Private nonprofit | $19,390 39% of the leader · rank #68 | $14,197 | $11,500 | $60,055 | 147 |
| 69 | Texas County Technical College Houston, MO · Private for-profit | $19,429 39% of the leader · rank #69 | $17,080 | $13,195 | $42,924 | 71 |
| 70 | Evolve Beauty Academy Washington, MO · Private for-profit | $19,584 38% of the leader · rank #70 | $19,584 | - | - | 21 |
| 71 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit | $19,638 38% of the leader · rank #71 | $15,678 | $26,000 | $45,711 | 7,288 |
| 72 | Bryan University Springfield, MO · Private for-profit | $20,053 37% of the leader · rank #72 | $20,053 | $22,764 | $28,498 | 159 |
| 73 | Logan University Chesterfield, MO · Private nonprofit | $20,218 36% of the leader · rank #73 | $14,934 | $10,250 | $42,378 | 1,582 |
| 74 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO · Public | $20,268 36% of the leader · rank #74 | $13,841 | $20,500 | $52,756 | 31,013 |
| 75 | Saline County Career Center Marshall, MO · Public | $20,386 36% of the leader · rank #75 | $18,489 | $14,027 | $35,401 | 23 |
| 76 | Ozark Christian College Joplin, MO · Private nonprofit | $20,580 35% of the leader · rank #76 | $17,900 | $16,772 | $32,528 | 701 |
| 77 | Drury University Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit | $20,831 35% of the leader · rank #77 | $18,759 | $20,979 | $37,508 | 1,596 |
| 78 | Summit Salon Academy Kansas City Independence, MO · Private for-profit | $20,947 34% of the leader · rank #78 | $16,519 | $11,938 | $17,711 | 108 |
| 79 | Park University Parkville, MO · Private nonprofit | $21,032 34% of the leader · rank #79 | $18,687 | $21,685 | $50,550 | 6,634 |
| 80 | House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs Blue Springs, MO · Private for-profit | $21,361 33% of the leader · rank #80 | $21,260 | $7,917 | $24,015 | 120 |
| 81 | Mission University Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit | $21,383 33% of the leader · rank #81 | $22,017 | $26,168 | $30,600 | 377 |
| 82 | Evangel University-James River Assembly of God Church Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit | $21,548 32% of the leader · rank #82 | $20,097 | $24,736 | $39,332 | 98 |
| 83 | Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO · Private nonprofit | $21,677 32% of the leader · rank #83 | $21,978 | $20,957 | $38,855 | 2,155 |
| 84 | Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $21,786 32% of the leader · rank #84 | $1,716 | $17,500 | $78,073 | 16,500 |
| 85 | Culver-Stockton College Canton, MO · Private nonprofit | $21,983 31% of the leader · rank #85 | $17,712 | $26,000 | $40,673 | 1,069 |
| 86 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $22,066 31% of the leader · rank #86 | $16,528 | $22,000 | $55,047 | 9,883 |
| 87 | Southern Missouri Technical Institute West Plains, MO · Public | $22,260 30% of the leader · rank #87 | $22,145 | - | $34,305 | 58 |
| 88 | Columbia College Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit | $22,715 29% of the leader · rank #88 | $23,967 | $23,879 | $40,747 | 6,046 |
| 89 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Fayette, MO · Private nonprofit | $22,766 28% of the leader · rank #89 | $20,260 | $17,619 | $43,860 | 1,017 |
| 90 | Hannibal-LaGrange University Hannibal, MO · Private nonprofit | $22,814 28% of the leader · rank #90 | $21,285 | $18,599 | $41,185 | 441 |
| 91 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | $23,006 28% of the leader · rank #91 | $19,818 | $15,675 | $39,712 | 3,840 |
| 92 | Applied Technology Services Florissant, MO · Public | $23,405 26% of the leader · rank #92 | $22,954 | $14,750 | $57,854 | 152 |
| 93 | Stephens College Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit | $23,459 26% of the leader · rank #93 | $9,918 | $27,000 | $36,778 | 532 |
| 94 | Westminster College Fulton, MO · Private nonprofit | $24,314 24% of the leader · rank #94 | $24,543 | $27,000 | $40,992 | 593 |
| 95 | St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton Fenton, MO · Private for-profit | $24,395 23% of the leader · rank #95 | $24,239 | $11,750 | $28,788 | 430 |
| 96 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $24,398 23% of the leader · rank #96 | $22,501 | $25,000 | $60,716 | 17,202 |
| 97 | Conception Seminary College Conception, MO · Private nonprofit | $24,558 23% of the leader · rank #97 | $22,728 | - | $33,606 | 41 |
| 98 | Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis Saint Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $24,907 22% of the leader · rank #98 | $24,907 | $9,833 | $30,670 | 209 |
| 99 | Rockhurst University Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | $25,884 19% of the leader · rank #99 | $22,797 | $18,250 | $61,371 | 3,496 |
| 100 | Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri Springfield, MO · Private for-profit | $26,023 18% of the leader · rank #100 | $23,911 | $9,500 | $30,633 | 335 |
| 101 | Concorde Career College-Broadway Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $26,119 18% of the leader · rank #101 | $25,985 | $9,500 | $33,845 | 31 |
| 102 | William Woods University Fulton, MO · Private nonprofit | $26,569 16% of the leader · rank #102 | $24,014 | $21,983 | $39,265 | 1,729 |
| 103 | House of Heavilin Beauty College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $26,726 16% of the leader · rank #103 | $26,726 | $13,102 | - | 60 |
| 104 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $26,815 16% of the leader · rank #104 | $25,350 | $30,416 | $52,341 | 211 |
| 105 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $27,006 15% of the leader · rank #105 | $21,808 | $22,500 | $38,997 | 5,641 |
| 106 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $27,047 15% of the leader · rank #106 | $22,359 | $23,000 | $39,656 | 7,606 |
| 107 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit | $27,650 13% of the leader · rank #107 | $26,293 | $27,000 | $25,529 | 789 |
| 108 | Four Rivers Career Center Washington, MO · Public | $27,746 13% of the leader · rank #108 | $27,652 | $10,623 | $40,221 | 24 |
| 109 | St Louis College of Health Careers-St Louis St. Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $27,777 13% of the leader · rank #109 | $27,762 | $11,750 | $28,788 | 108 |
| 110 | Waynesville Career Center Waynesville, MO · Public | $28,418 11% of the leader · rank #110 | $30,082 | - | $48,063 | 21 |
| 111 | Pinnacle Career Institute Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $28,732 10% of the leader · rank #111 | $28,154 | $11,605 | $30,682 | 488 |
| 112 | Concorde Career College-Kansas City Kansas City, MO · Private for-profit | $29,500 7% of the leader · rank #112 | $29,142 | $9,500 | $33,845 | 240 |
| 113 | Franklin Technology Center Adult Education Joplin, MO · Public | $30,618 4% of the leader · rank #113 | $30,435 | $7,600 | $32,233 | 57 |
| 114 | Chamberlain University-Missouri St. Louis, MO · Private for-profit | $30,716 4% of the leader · rank #114 | $28,131 | $20,919 | $84,533 | 328 |
| 115 | University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit | $31,817 4% of the leader · rank #115 | $24,456 | $17,755 | $116,360 | 631 |
What this means for you
Use Missouri's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Kirksville Area Technical Center reports the lowest average net price in Missouri, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Kirksville Area Technical
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Missouri safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.