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)
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Missouri
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.
State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?6 | NCTQ Undergrad Elementary Prog. % (2016)**7 | NCTQ Undergrad Secondary Prog. % (2017)**7 | Teacher Prep Prog. Enrollment8 | Teacher Prep Prog. Completers8 | Licensing Exams Pass Rate8 | Net Price***1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avila College | No | 60% | 52% | 47 | 26 | 100% | $20,092 |
Baptist Bible College | No | — | — | 20 | 4 | — | $14,256 |
Calvary University | No | — | — | 29 | 7 | — | $13,671 |
Central Methodist University | No | 8% | 40% | 300 | 131 | 95% | $22,688 |
College of the Ozarks | No | — | — | 82 | 48 | 100% | $13,498 |
Columbia College | No | 9% | 32% | 181 | 52 | 100% | $23,062 |
Cottey College | No | — | — | — | — | — | $17,044 |
Culver-Stockton College | No | — | — | 65 | 23 | 96% | $20,299 |
Drury University | Yes | 82% | 84% | 84 | 84 | 100% | $19,706 |
Evangel University | Yes | 79% | 61% | 135 | 52 | 85% | $20,976 |
Fontbonne University | Yes | 88% | — | 206 | 62 | 84% | $22,599 |
Hannibal-LaGrange University | No | 66% | 76% | 83 | 30 | 77% | $18,846 |
Harris-Stowe University | Yes | 25% | 31% | 47 | 17 | 100% | $6,788 |
Lincoln University | Yes | 19% | 28% | 38 | 26 | 88% | $10,911 |
Lindenwood University | Yes | — | 81% | 298 | 165 | 95% | $17,305 |
Maryville University | Yes | 70% | 91% | 50 | 22 | 95% | $30,921 |
Missouri Baptist University | Yes | 38% | 64% | 146 | 105 | 100% | $19,583 |
Missouri Southern State University | Yes | 52% | 71% | 142 | 102 | 97% | $9,018 |
Missouri State University | Yes | 49% | 76% | 2,554 | 551 | 93% | $15,173 |
Missouri University of Science and Technology | No | — | 76% | 29 | 20 | 95% | $14,133 |
Missouri Valley College | No | 45% | 71% | 4 | 13 | 100% | $20,065 |
Missouri Western State University | Yes | 34% | 46% | 186 | 68 | 100% | $10,467 |
Northwest Missouri State University | Yes | 54% | 81% | 250 | 156 | 92% | $11,778 |
Park University | No | 13% | 20% | 44 | 25 | 96% | $16,048 |
Rockhurst University | Yes | 83% | 91% | 89 | 54 | 93% | $23,291 |
Saint Louis University | Yes | 66% | 93% | 56 | 169 | 97% | $31,718 |
Southeast Missouri State University | Yes | — | 76% | 353 | 77 | 84% | $12,165 |
Southwest Baptist University | No | 66% | 61% | 74 | 36 | 86% | $18,401 |
Stephens College | No | — | — | 10 | 5 | — | $23,222 |
Truman State University | Yes | — | — | 153 | 104 | 99% | $12,512 |
University of Central Missouri | Yes | 28% | — | 337 | 266 | 85% | $12,711 |
University of Missouri-Columbia | Yes | 52% | 79% | 291 | 244 | 98% | $17,762 |
University of Missouri-Kansas City | Yes | 66% | — | 84 | 74 | 97% | $14,864 |
University of Missouri-St. Louis | Yes | 60% | 94% | 127 | 208 | 96% | $9,150 |
Washington University | No | 45% | 81% | 18 | 22 | 91% | $27,777 |
Webster University | Yes | — | — | 111 | 40 | 100% | $23,835 |
Western Governors University | No | — | — | 331 | 50 | 98% | — |
Westminster College | No | 41% | 84% | 23 | 15 | 100% | $20,181 |
William Jewell College | No | 49% | 91% | 25 | 15 | 100% | $20,916 |
William Woods University | Yes | 49% | 84% | 23 | 23 | 90% | $21,573 |
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.
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/

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/

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/

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

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

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

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