Missouri is one of our great Midwestern states. It's known for agriculture, but also fantastic cities such as St. Louis. As part of its greatness, Missouri has some of the best colleges and universities in the nation. From outstanding STEM studies, to some top arts conservatories, students can study and excel in whatever field they desire.
The economy is changing as a result of globalization, technology, and an exploding population. However, Missouri colleges and universities offer the top programs and majors to launch a brilliant career. You will have the perfect collection of knowledge and skills once you walk across the stage to receive your bachelor's degree.
What are the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Missouri?
The nation's most popular bachelor's degrees are offered in Missouri. Since Missouri students are demanding most of the same majors as their peers nationwide, if you choose a bachelor's degree such as Business Administration and focus on management, you will have a degree that is in high demand. The same goes for a Health Sciences degree such as Nursing or Physical Therapy, which will put you at the top of the rapidly expanding healthcare industry. Healthcare Administration is also popular because those careers are growing at a much faster rate than other parts of the economy.
The most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Missouri are:
Top Business Administration - Management Careers and Salaries
CAREER NAME
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Cost Estimators
4,700
$56,800
Sales Managers
5,100
$61,600
Industrial and Production Managers
3,430
$72,400
Logistician
2,860
$66,700
Construction Managers
3,220
$78,000
Find Your Online Missouri Program
Cost Estimators: Your job will be to research the cost of materials, assess the projected need for those materials, and create a report that details your estimated cost breakdown for all parts of a project. This way, you can assess bids from subcontractors and manage the finances of structures such as high rises, apartment buildings, and shopping centers.
Sales Managers: Most salespeople rise into management after at least five years in the field. When you make the leap into management, you can help groom new salespeople, create incentives for the team, and exceed your quarterly sales numbers.
Industrial and Production Managers: Given the current focus on increasing domestic manufacturing, you should expect more growth in this area over the years to come. To excel in this job, you might minor in industrial engineering, or even computer science. After all, manufacturing is more and more automated all the time.
Logistician: This career requires a full working knowledge of Supply Chain Management. This field is heating up more and more all the time due to the growing importance of global trade. Your firm could have goods shipping in and out to ports worldwide.
Construction Management: You might start as a cost estimator or as an engineer prior to landing a position as a Construction Manager. In this career path, you will oversee all sorts of construction jobs. You might gain special knowledge and skills managing high-rise projects, or you might specialize in putting up buildings for big-box retailers.
Accountant: Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions, revenue and expenses. In accounting, transactions are summarized, analyzed, and reported to regulatory agencies, tax collection agencies, and oversight agencies.
Detective/Criminal Investigators: If you like the idea of bringing criminals to justice, you will love this line of work. Investigators might work to solve homicides, theft, or even white-collar crimes. As you work you will find your niche.
Information Security Analyst: Computer security is a huge issue these days. Hackers sometimes steal data pertaining to credit card transactions, bank accounts, or even industrial secrets. You'll need an investigator's insight into the criminal mind in addition to the high-tech skills required for this position.
Private Detective: This career has been made famous, if not infamous, in film and television. Private Detectives can help reunite loved ones, find birth parents for adoptees, and even work on crimes to help assuage grieving victims and bring criminals to justice. In this field, you can carve out a specialty and custom-craft your career.
Forensic Science Technician: If you love the idea of working in a lab, you could work analyzing fibers and fluids from crime scenes. Rather than arduous hours working on scientific research, you will look for ways to solve crimes. Given the rapid advancements in technology, this field is sure to offer loads of opportunities to learn and grow.
Correctional Officers: Once a criminal is convicted and enters the criminal justice system, you can work with them towards the goal of rehabilitation. Whether you are a prison guard, probation officer, or somewhere in between, your career path will be a benefit to your community.
Healthcare Administrator: With a degree in Healthcare Administration, you can launch a career in Health Services Management and/or administration. You might one day find yourself running a hospital as the top administrator. You could also oversee a region of clinics, or other healthcare systems. To succeed, you'll not only need business and leadership abilities, but a full working knowledge of the healthcare industry.
Financial Analyst: Many students start as financial analysts for various companies. However, if you want to be part of one of the hottest industries, Healthcare, you'll need special knowledge of that field. That is, financial analysis is often more than simply crunching numbers, especially when patient care is at stake.
Healthcare Informatics: This interdisciplinary field bridges the gap between healthcare providers, patients, and the hard data. Your analyses will help ensure optimal care as well as smooth organizational operations.
Communications: Healthcare systems need to get their message out when they have success. It's also important to communicate with the media and public when accidents happen. As a professional communicator, you'll broadcast your organization's message with style and grace.
Medical Equipment Sales: Salespeople help people and the economy in many ways. However, how many can say their sales are helping people's blood pump or legs move? This rewarding career is perfect if you have knowledge of healthcare but are an outgoing people person.
Best Missouri Schools for Healthcare Administration
University of Missouri – St Louis
University of Missouri – Columbia
Chamberlain University
Washington University
Top Health Sciences Careers and Salaries
CAREER NAME
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Occupational Therapist
2,240
$66,600
Physical Therapist
4,490
$71,500
Radiology Technician
4,000
$48,300
Registered Nurse
68,840
$65,500
Nurse Practitioner
5,200
$97,600
Occupational Therapist: Whether you're helping a geriatric patient in her struggle with the onset of dementia or a teenager work through adolescence plus a mental illness, your career will always be rewarding. You could make a career in a hospital, or you might work in the field, even in small clinics or assisted living facilities.
Physical Therapist: Mobility is the name of the game for a Physical Therapist. That is, you'll help people get moving after accidents, diseases, and stroke, among other maladies. You'll need a doctoral level degree to become licensed in this profession.
Radiology Technician: Doctors need information in order to make a proper diagnosis or to offer prognosis for a suffering patient. Radiology Techs perform examinations such as MRIs, X-Rays, and CT scans, among others, to provide the doctors with the images they need to assess tumors, internal injuries, and post-surgery progress.
Registered Nurse: There are many specialty areas you can choose as an RN. Your passion might be with psychiatric patients or it might be on the Maternity Ward. With an RN license, you can make that decision.
Nurse Practitioner: Nurse practitioners are second only to doctors when it comes to diagnosing illness and writing prescriptions. As a Nurse Practitioner, you might operate your own clinic. However, you will need a doctor to sign off on your work. That is, you will work under the license of a doctor who owns a practice, but day-to-day you will have incredible autonomy.
Market Research Analyst: This Is where market data is used. You will take information from surveys, interviews, observational sessions, and even the census to learn how to best sell your firm's products and services.
Marketing Managers: As a marketing manager, you will have probably come up from an analyst position to head a marketing department. You'll take the data from your team, help them aggregate, collate, and analyze it to create presentations for the rest of your firm.
Sales Managers: Once you are seasoned as a salesperson, you can move up to become a sales manager. Your insights and experience will inspire new salespeople, and you will lead your team to exceed sales projections quarter after quarter.
Advertising Account Representative: In this position, you will work with both the creative team that generates an ad campaign as well as the client who is purchasing it. You will thus need keen communication skills to bridge the gap between the two worlds. You might need to reign in wild creativity from your copywriters to please a staid client or prod your people to break out of the box for a brash new startup.
Public Relations: This job is all about maintaining a good reputation. Your clients will depend on you to keep their image and reputation in the media spotless. If trouble arises, you must enter the scene to help manage media coverage, hoping to balance negative stories with positive ones. Excellent communication skills and high emotional IQ will be keys to your success.
The top occupations with the highest forecasted growth rate in Missouri
Between 2017 and 2019, Missouri projects an overall jobs growth of approximately 51,000. The top eleven fastest-growing Missouri occupations for that period are:
Students looking for an affordable two-year degree program in Missouri have a plethora of great options to choose from. Whether you plan to apply for employment immediately after graduation or want to transfer credits earned to a four-year institution, earning an associate degree can put you on the right track. Gain the knowledge and skills you need from one of the top colleges in the state to jumpstart your academic and/or professional career!
State Technical College of Missouri
College Type 2-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 1,724
Graduation Rate 72%
Net Price $7,218
Grads Salary $40,400
Ranken Technical College
College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 1,799
Graduation Rate 66%
Net Price $15,803
Grads Salary $54,900
St. Charles Community College
College Type 2-year, Public
Campus Housing No
Student Population 6,363
Graduation Rate 29%
Net Price $3,649
Grads Salary $39,800
North Central Missouri College
College Type 2-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 1,746
Graduation Rate 49%
Net Price $9,076
Grads Salary $32,300
Cottey College
College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit
You can begin exploring your higher education options by considering a four-year degree available right there in Missouri. You can earn an invaluable bachelor’s degree in no time from one of the top colleges in the state. Regardless of your field of interest, these highly regarded undergraduate programs can help prepare you for a successful career after graduation. Those seeking more advanced degrees will also meet the academic requirements for future enrollment.
Missouri University of Science and Technology
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 7,642
Graduation Rate 67%
Net Price $13,476
Grads Salary $80,900
Washington University in St. Louis
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 16,191
Graduation Rate 94%
Net Price $27,233
Grads Salary $79,000
Truman State University
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 4,655
Graduation Rate 75%
Net Price $12,621
Grads Salary $65,000
University of Missouri
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 31,089
Graduation Rate 73%
Net Price $16,930
Grads Salary $67,500
Rockhurst University
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 2,990
Graduation Rate 73%
Net Price $21,518
Grads Salary $71,400
University of Missouri-St Louis
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 13,874
Graduation Rate 56%
Net Price $10,039
Grads Salary $65,000
Maryville University of Saint Louis
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 10,979
Graduation Rate 75%
Net Price $28,087
Grads Salary $72,700
William Jewell College
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 739
Graduation Rate 67%
Net Price $23,039
Grads Salary $71,800
Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies
Do you want to specialize in your current field or are you interested in transitioning to another career? Researching the best advanced degree programs in Missouri may provide the push you need to begin pursuing your ideal employment opportunities. There are several types of advanced degrees you can obtain, which are: a master's degree, doctorate degree or an MBA. Our list for the best master's and doctorate programs are below. You can learn more about a master of business administration and the best colleges in Missouri here. Whether you specialize in business, law, or medicine, a master’s or doctoral degree can help you develop and hone the analytical skills and critical thinking abilities necessary to be successful in the future.
Missouri University of Science and Technology
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 7,642
Graduation Rate 67%
Net Price $13,476
Grads Salary $80,900
Washington University in St. Louis
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 16,191
Graduation Rate 94%
Net Price $27,233
Grads Salary $79,000
Truman State University
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 4,655
Graduation Rate 75%
Net Price $12,621
Grads Salary $65,000
University of Missouri
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 31,089
Graduation Rate 73%
Net Price $16,930
Grads Salary $67,500
Rockhurst University
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 2,990
Graduation Rate 73%
Net Price $21,518
Grads Salary $71,400
University of Missouri-St Louis
College Type 4-year, Public
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 13,874
Graduation Rate 56%
Net Price $10,039
Grads Salary $65,000
William Jewell College
College Type 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Campus Housing Yes
Student Population 739
Graduation Rate 67%
Net Price $23,039
Grads Salary $71,800
Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies
College Type 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit
Campus Housing No
Student Population 274
Graduation Rate 63%
Net Price $20,239
Grads Salary $24,400
Cost of Missouri College Education & Salaries
Determining the costs and benefits of an education can be tricky. Education is not cheap, and tuition seem to rise all the time. However, it's nearly impossible to pursue a meaningful career without at least a bachelor's degree. Even if you feel you have the necessary skills for many jobs, employers need to see that you have completed a four-year degree program.
Thus, students need to figure out ways to pay for college while minimizing costs. The primary way to avoid exorbitant college costs is to attend a public, in-state university. When compared with out-of-state tuition, you can easily see the value of remaining in Missouri. Take a look at the range of academic opportunities in the state and the decision will be obvious.
Another way to cut costs is to complete your core courses at a community college. Many community colleges offer credits that will transfer easily to the University of Missouri school of your choice but be sure to confirm this in advance. In those first years, you can knock out courses such as English 101, foreign language requirements, and math/science core courses. Community colleges frequently have instructors that are the equal to those in top universities, and the class sizes are often smaller.
You can also apply for scholarships and grants. This is a great way to augment your costs. It doesn't take too long to put together a short essay and filling out the applications will get easier. While most awards hover in the low four-figures, the low dollar figure is padded by the status you'll have when you show that you were awarded scholarships. That means a lot to future employers.
At the end of the day, while the cost of a bachelor's degree is significant, always keep in mind that education is one item that nobody can ever take away from you. You can always add to it on your own, or when you enter graduate school. Even if you decide later that you need more undergraduate courses to help launch a career change, your existing educational background will always be valuable.
Search Programs Offering Missouri Majors
College Cost Analysis - Missouri vs National
Average Missouri Tuition & Fees at 4 Year Public Schools
In-State Tuition - $8,554
National Average – $9,580
Out-of-State Tuition – $19,914
National Average – $27,437
Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid
Missouri comes in roughly on par with national averages when it comes to federal grants and other financial aid. However, slightly more students received grant money than the national average. Remember that grant funds do not have to be repaid.
Financial Aid
Missouri
Nationally
Received Federal Grants
39%
37.7%
Average $ per Recipient
$10,375
$10,927
* Institutional aid represents grant and scholarship funds directly awarded by a post-secondary institution.
* Financial aid data represents 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.
Best Scholarships for Missouri
Scholarships and Grants are great financial tools that will help you pay for college and reduce any debt load you may have after graduation. There are so many scholarships available that go unnoticed, and unclaimed, that it is a shame to not seek out some for yourself. Though it is rare to find a scholarship that will pay your entire academic bill, there are many that can help you pay for books, or even a class or two. Remember that even if a scholarship doesn't pay all of the bills, it is still an award that will more than pay off when you put it on your resume.
RJTSSA
Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. Scholarship Application
https://business.missouri.edu/programs-admissions/undergraduate/scholarships/general-trulaske-college-business-scholarships Amount: $9,500 Deadline: February 1 This scholarship is for students of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at University of Missouri – Columbia. The scholarship is open to all students, but first priority goes to students whose parents are employees of True Manufacturing Company, or their subsidiaries. You should have shown interest in business through your extra-curricular activities, jobs, or other interests. Financial need is imperative, as is graduating in the upper two-thirds of your high school class. However, you must also be below the top ten percent.
SMWSB
Sam M. Walton Scholarships in Business
https://business.missouri.edu/programs-admissions/undergraduate/scholarships/general-trulaske-college-business-scholarships Amount: $7,500 (per year) Deadline: February 1 This scholarship is for business students majoring in economics, finance, international business, management, or marketing. Accounting majors are not included in this scholarship, unfortunately. To qualify for this prestigious scholarship, you should demonstrate high academic achievement and financial need. This is a renewable scholarship and if you maintain it, your tuition bill will see a significant discount.
EMFS
Erickson Merkel Foundation Scholarships
http://www.ericksonmerkel.org/scholarships/ Amount: $500 - $1500 Deadline: March 31 This scholarship is open to all students residing in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. In fact, you can be attending any sort of post-secondary institution, including a Vocational school, graduate school, or a professional development college. To win an award, you should demonstrate creativity, hard work, and a commitment to community service. Once the application period begins, you can download the application form.
HAMS
Horatio Alger Missouri Scholarships
https://scholars.horatioalger.org/about-our-scholarship-programs/state-scholarships/ Amount: $10,000 Deadline: October 25 The Horatio Alger Scholarship funds are available to high school students who have overcome significant setbacks yet have persevered. To qualify, you must demonstrate critical financial need, community service activities, integrity and strong character, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, among other qualifications.
MLNS
Missouri League for Nursing Scholarship
https://www.mlnmonursing.org/students/scholarships/ Amount: $2,000 maximum Deadline: Fall - annually This scholarship is open to RN students at or above the freshman level of an associate’s degree program, RN students at or above the sophomore level of a baccalaureate degree program, and MSN students who have completed a minimum of 15 hours towards their graduate education. To qualify, you should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Your application must also come from an accredited nursing program and submitted directly to the Missouri League for Nursing. Applications are not accepted from students.
