List of Private Universities & Colleges in Missouri
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Differences of a Private College in Missouri
Private colleges are, by definition, schools owned by private entities that do not accept public funds. Thus, a private university must operate through the prudent use of tuition, grants, internal operations, and donations. A private college will tend to offer students a smaller class size and lower student to teacher ratios when compared to state colleges. The smaller class size will often translate into more interactive classrooms and greater levels of communication with teaching faculty at the college. These factors may be enough to seriously consider a private college. Lastly, it is worth noting that many established private universities will provide students with generous financial aid packages. A recent report compiled by our staff reveals that private college tuition discounts are now averaging fully 49% off the published rates putting schools in reach for more and more students across the country.List of Large 4-Year Private Universities in Missouri
There are 12 large private universities in our database for Missouri. Follow the links below to get more details about each school.
Large Universities with Research Facilities or Faculty
The universities listed below offer many diverse academic programs, have a large student body, and usually have research facilities or faculty involved with research. These schools very often have graduate and professional programs as well.
Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, MO

Visit the website for Lindenwood University at lindenwood.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $17,000 per year
Maryville University of Saint Louis in Saint Louis, MO

Visit the website for Maryville University of Saint Louis at maryville.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $28,000 per year
Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, MO

Visit the website for Saint Louis University at slu.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $41,000 per year
Washington University in St Louis (WUSTL) in Saint Louis, MO

Visit the website for Washington University in St Louis at wustl.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $50,000 per year
Large Primarily Academic Universities
Each university listed below offers a diverse set of degrees and programs, unlike the research universities listed above, these schools contain little to no research activity on campus and are primarily academic.
- Columbia College in Columbia, MO
- Drury University in Springfield, MO
- Missouri Baptist University (MBU) in Saint Louis, MO
- Park University in Parkville, MO
- Rockhurst University (Rockhurst) in Kansas City, MO
- Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO
- Webster University in Saint Louis, MO
- William Woods University (WWU/William Woods/The Woods) in Fulton, MO
Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities
The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.
- (DeVry University-Kansas City) in Kansas City, MO
- Avila University in Kansas City, MO
- Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CMU - CLAS) in Fayette, MO
- College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO
- Cottey College in Nevada, MO
- Culver - Stockton College (CULVER) in Canton, MO
- Evangel University in Springfield, MO
- Fontbonne University in Saint Louis, MO
- Hannibal - Lagrange College in Hannibal, MO
- Hickey College in Saint Louis, MO
- Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO
- National American University in Independence, MO
- Ranken Technical College in Saint Louis, MO
- Stephens College (Stephens) in Columbia, MO
- Westminster College in Fulton, MO
- William Jewell College in Liberty, MO
4-Year Colleges with a Special Focus on an Area of Study
The schools below are grouped by their special area of focus. To learn about admissions, tuition & fees, programs offered, and more click on the school names below.
Technology-Related Schools
Theological Seminaries, Bible Colleges, and Other Faith-Related Institutions
- Baptist Bible College and Graduate School in Springfield, MO
- Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO
- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) in Kansas City, MO
- Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO
Health Professions Schools
- Brown Mackie College - St Louis in Fenton, MO
- Chamberlain College of Nursing - Missouri in St. Louis, MO
- Cox College in Springfield, MO
- St Louis College of Pharmacy in Saint Louis, MO
Schools of Art, Music, and Design
- Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Missouri in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2015: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.