Best College ROI in Mo 2026
58 colleges in Mo analyzed for return on investment. Avila University leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Mo has 58 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 13 public institutions and 45 private ones. Across the 58 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $26K and earn $80K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
97% of Mo colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Avila University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Mo
Avila University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Mo's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $18K in median debt.
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Southeast Missouri State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Mo
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avila University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | Missouri University of Science and Technology(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Southeast Missouri State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Truman State University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | University of Central Missouri(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Washington University in St Louis(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Fontbonne University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Hannibal-LaGrange University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Missouri Southern State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Missouri State University-Springfield(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Saint Louis University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | University of Missouri-Columbia(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Webster University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Westminster College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Lindenwood University(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Missouri Valley College(private) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | Missouri Western State University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Columbia College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $26K | $95K | A (94) |
| 20 | Harris-Stowe State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
College debt and earnings data for Mo is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Avila University has the best ROI in Mo with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $18K in median debt.
Across 58 Mo colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $26K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $80K.
Avila University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Mo has 58 colleges in our database (13 public, 45 private). Of the 58 with reportable ROI, 97% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).