Missouri Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching schools in Missouri provides essential information to help you research options for pursuing a career as a teacher. Aspiring teachers must complete an accredited program in order to obtain a teaching degree in Missouri. Scroll down to find lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews of Missouri teaching schools. Whether you are a first-time college student or are in need of a career change, this guide can help you find a program that fits your goal of becoming an educator.

Quick Facts

• There are 55 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Missouri.¹
• 17 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*¹
• 39 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*¹
• 33 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*¹
• 8 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.²
• 3 schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.³
• 8 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁴
• 9 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁵
• 22 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Missouri

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

• Washington University in St. Louis (#40)
• Truman State University (#71)
• Saint Louis University (#133)
• Maryville University (#154)
• William Jewell College (#169)
• Rockhurst University (#192)
• Drury University (#216)
• University of Missouri (#234)

*Institution-wide ranking.

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020

• College of the Ozarks
• Stephens College
• William Jewell College

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019

• University of Missouri (#36 tie)
• Washington University in St. Louis (#61 tie)
• University of Missouri-Kansas City (#157 tie)
• Saint Louis University (#182 tie)
• University of Missouri-St. Louis (#191 tie)
• Maryville University of St. Louis (#195-258)
• Southwest Baptist University (#195-258)
• William Woods University (#195-258)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019

• University of Missouri (#38 tie)
• Southeast Missouri State University (#105 tie)
• Lindenwood University (#139 tie)
• Drury University (#148 tie)
• Park University (#214 tie)
• Webster University (#222 tie)
• Maryville University of St. Louis (#228-299)
• Northwest Missouri State University (#228-295)
• William Woods University (#228-299)

Comparison of Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare the ratings of teacher preparation programs in Missouri according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure. While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, many states accept degrees from CAEP-accredited institutions for those wishing to become certified. CAEP accreditation is highly regarded and shows that a program has met rigorous evidence-based standards. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) also provides its own ratings of approved educator preparation institutions based on metrics including pre-service teachers’ academic performance, pass rates on the state’s certification assessments, and first-year teacher preparation ratings from surveys. Each individual certification program at an educator preparation institution is rated separately. A Tier 4 rating indicates programs assessed at the lowest level of performance, while a Tier 1 rating indicates programs assessed at the highest level of performance. Finally, we included ratings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching.

The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

Southeast Missouri State: The mission of Southeast Missouri State College of Education is to prepare and sustain remarkable leaders in teaching, counseling, and educational leadership. Departments within the program are categorized by discipline and focus, including educational leadership, elementary and early special education, and middle or secondary education. Secondary education may focus on a variety of disciplines, from art to physics, but the overall goal of the program is the same as that of elementary school education, to succeed as an educational leader. The school confers degrees at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels and caters to students of all backgrounds, demographics and work experience. Continued education for working professionals is available to obtain specific credentials in the field.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Missouri

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Missouri

Avila University
11901 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64145-1698
(816) 942-8400

Baptist Bible College
628 E Kearney
Springfield, MO 65803-3498
(417) 268-6060

Calvary University
15800 Calvary Rd
Kansas City, MO 64147-1341
(816) 322-0110

Central Methodist University
411 Central Methodist Sq
Fayette, MO 65248-1198
(660) 248-3391
www.centralmethodist.edu

College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO 65726-0017
(417) 334-6411
www.cofo.edu

Crowder College
601 Laclede Ave
Neosho, MO 64850
(417) 451-3223

Culver-Stockton College
1 College Hill
Canton, MO 63435-1299
(573) 288-6000
https://www.culver.edu/

Student Review: “Going to school at CSC was a wonderful experience. Their courses for education were challenging to me but the teachers were always willing to give an extra hand and there were tutors available to anyone who needed them. It was very obvious that the teachers and their aides had real-life experience in the fields they were teaching in and the students really benefited from their expertise. The class sizes were exceptionally small, with most having only two dozen or so students. I remember the biggest class I had to take only had three dozen students but it was handled so well and the teacher offered extensive office hours and you were left feeling like it was a much smaller class. There was also a fantastic selection of fine arts events on campus that ranged from guest artists to performance groups and these were held weekly for all of the students. This is a religious college so there are required theology classes to take before you can graduate but these are few and they cover many religions as well as Christianity, which the college is founded on. The option to not take these would have been nice, but the classes themselves were very educational. In all, I loved my time at CSC and I really felt like the things I learned have helped me be a better teacher.” -Student at Culver-Stockton College

Drury University
900 N Benton
Springfield, MO 65802-3791
(417) 873-7879
www.drury.edu

East Central College
1964 Prairie Dell Rd
Union, MO 63084
(636) 583-5193
www.eastcentral.edu

Evangel University
1111 N Glenstone
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 865-2811

Fontbonne University
6800 Wydown Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63105-3098
(314) 862-3456
www.fontbonne.edu

Hannibal-Lagrange College
2800 Palmyra Rd
Hannibal, MO 63401-1999
(573) 221-3675
www.hlg.edu

Independence College of Cosmetology
815 W 23rd St
Independence, MO 64055
(816) 252-4247

Jefferson College
1000 Viking Dr
Hillsboro, MO 63050-2440
(636) 797-3000

Lincoln University
820 Chestnut
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0029
(573) 681-5000
www.lincolnu.edu

Lindenwood University
209 S Kingshighway St
Saint Charles, MO 63301-1695
(636) 949-2000
www.lindenwood.edu

Maryville University of Saint Louis
650 Maryville University Dr
Saint Louis, MO 63141-7299
(800) 627-9855
www.maryville.edu

Mineral Area College
5270 Flat River Rd
Park Hills, MO 63601-1000
(573) 431-4593
www.mineralarea.edu

Missouri Baptist University
One College Park Dr
Saint Louis, MO 63141-8698
(877) 434-1115
www.mobap.edu

Missouri Southern State University
3950 E Newman Rd
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
(417) 625-9300

Missouri State University
901 S National
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5000

Missouri University of Science and Technology
1870 Miner Cir
Rolla, MO 65409
573-341-4111
800-522-0938
www.futurestudents.mst.edu

Missouri Valley College
500 E College St
Marshall, MO 65340
(660) 831-4000
www.moval.edu

Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Dr
Saint Joseph, MO 64507
(816) 271-4200

North Central Missouri College
1301 Main St
Trenton, MO 64683
(660) 359-3948
www.ncmissouri.edu

Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Dr
Maryville, MO 64468-6001
(660) 562-1212
www.nwmissouri.edu

Park University
8700 NW River Park Dr
Parkville, MO 64152-3795
(816) 741-2000

Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Rd
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 501-4000
https://www.rockhurst.edu/

Student Review: “I truly enjoyed my time at Rockhurst University. Several college programs out there are simply a hoop to jump through and don’t work towards progressing you as an educator or a person. Rockhurst is all about their Jesuit mission, and it permeates the coursework. It’s all about improving the world through education, which I appreciated as an educator. The campus itself is small and not very far away from the heart of downtown Kansas City. Though it can be in a busier part of town, the security on staff was excellent. The teaching staff there was also remarkable, and always worked with me when I was having difficulties. I can’t say enough about my time there.” -Student at Rockhurst University

Saint Louis University-Main Campus
221 N Grand Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63103-2097
(314) 977-2222
www.slu.edu

Southeast Missouri State University
One University Plz
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-9980
(573) 651-2000
www.semo.edu

Southwest Baptist University
1600 University Ave
Bolivar, MO 65613-2596
(800) 526-5859
www.sbuniv.edu

Three Rivers Community College-Poplar Bluff
2080 Three Rivers Blvd
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
(573) 840-9600

Truman State University
100 E Normal
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
(660) 785-4000
www.truman.edu

University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO 64093
(660) 543-4111
https://www.ucmo.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Central Missouri education degree really prepared me for a teaching career in today’s workplace. The faculty are all very knowledgeable and truly care about the students. It almost feels like a family atmosphere and a small, tight-knit community of learners. One of the advantages is the size of classes are small, allowing greater faculty/student interaction. Also, the job placement rate for educators is extremely high. UCM really cares about its teacher job placement rate. The campus is extremely beautiful, well kept, and safe. It is still possible to take a walk across campus at night and feel safe and secure. One disadvantage of UCM is its location in Warrensburg, Missouri. While Warrensburg is growing, it is still a fairly small town lacking the advantages of big city life. However, Kansas City is just a short one hour drive away if you want to experience city life.” -Student at University of Central Missouri

University of Missouri-Columbia
105 Jesse Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-2121
https://missouri.edu/

Student Review: “Mizzou offers one of the prettiest campuses in the Midwest, the entire campus is considered a botanical garden, so it is kept up very nicely. The academics are challenging, but not impossible, and Mizzou is very good about providing resources to help its students. Another thing that I really love about Mizzou is all the events they have for students. The first week of school they have a welcome barbecue that is a great way for new students to meet people. Greek life is very big in Mizzou, and that can be a good thing or a bad thing for some. Greek life is present in about everything you do, and when meeting someone, usually the phrase “what house are you in” comes up, but if you aren’t Greek there is still plenty to do. The dorms, for the most part, are spacious and well maintained. I live in a suite, so I have a lot of room, and really like having a living room to hang out with friends. I overall really enjoy Mizzou, and am happy that I came here.” -Marin S., student at University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Rd
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 235-1000
https://www.umkc.edu/

Student Review: “Overall, my experience was positive. The program was tailored to my exact needs, and my adviser was able to clearly lay out the path I needed to take to achieve what I wanted (teaching certification and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction). The professors were knowledgeable and easy to work with. The cost was a bit higher than other schools, but I think it was worth it because of the reputation of UMKC and their School of Education.” -Student at University of Missouri-Kansas City

University of Missouri-St Louis
One University Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63121-4400
(314) 516-5000
http://www.umsl.edu/

Student Review: “I completed a 4 year educator preparation program. This included one full year of student teaching in a variety of grade levels, along with the usual classes and coursework. My favorite parts of the program were 1) I had many experienced or retired teachers that taught specific classes according to their specialty. 2) I got an incredible amount of hands-on experience working with students. This helped me to connect the coursework with the actual job. I also made some great career connections through academic development meetings held during my student teaching. My least favorite part of the program was the lack of communication in regards to questions I had about paperwork to be submitted. The MOPTA assessment required that I upload and complete a variety of documents in order to receive my certification. Overall, I would recommend the educator program at UMSL. I had a great experience that prepared me for my teaching job now. I learned a lot about technology and how to use it in the classroom, as well as how to work with students of varying abilities.” -Student at University of Missouri-St. Louis

Washington University in St Louis
One Brookings Dr
Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899
(314) 935-5000
www.wustl.edu

Webster University
470 E Lockwood Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63119-3194
(314) 961-2660
www.webster.edu

William Jewell College
500 College Hill
Liberty, MO 64068-1896
(816) 781-7700
www.jewell.edu

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
8. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx