Best Accredited Online Colleges in Missouri
Explore and compare a list of accredited schools to enroll in your next program.
Missouri hosts a large, high-quality education network with an exceptionally dense concentration of private colleges known for their innovation and smaller average class sizes. Students can also pursue online learning at many of the state’s 27 public degree-granting institutions.
If you’re looking into online colleges in Missouri, accreditation is an important place to start your research. This guide explains everything you need to know about accreditation as you launch your school selection process in the Show-Me State.
What Colleges Are Accredited in Missouri?
Online schools and colleges in Missouri can receive accreditation through a voluntary evaluation process. An independent agency reviews and evaluates the school to ensure its curricula and outcomes meet strict standards. Attending an accredited school ensures that employers will recognize your degree, and it is often required to qualify for federal and state financial aid programs.
Students who attend colleges without accreditation cannot receive federal loans or grants. Accredited schools also typically only accept credits from other institutions with accreditation. The following sections explore various types of accreditation and provide information about identifying an institution’s accreditation status.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation applies to entire colleges and universities. As a prospective student, you should consider it a mandatory feature of any school you’re considering. Most accredited online colleges in Missouri are recognized by the Higher Learning Commission.
Programmatic Accreditation
This form of subject-specific accreditation applies only to select departments, subject areas, or degree programs.
Unlike institutional accreditation, subject-specific accreditation is usually optional. Departments and programs that have it usually meet especially high standards, or follow guidelines that align with industry best practices.
Top Accredited Online Colleges in Missouri
Cox College
- Springfield, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,080
- Out-of-state$10,080
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate100%
- Acceptance Rate39%
- Students Enrolled956
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Webster University
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$28,500
- Out-of-state$28,500
- In-State$13,500
- Out-of-state$13,500
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate57%
- Students Enrolled9,860
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
Maryville University
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,070
- Out-of-state$26,070
- In-State$14,346
- Out-of-state$14,346
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled10,013
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment76%
- AccreditationYes
University of Missouri
- Columbia, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,120
- Out-of-state$26,991
- In-State$9,264
- Out-of-state$25,363
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled30,014
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
University of Central Missouri
- Warrensburg, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,128
- Out-of-state$14,256
- In-State$7,524
- Out-of-state$15,048
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled11,229
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Rolla, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,120
- Out-of-state$27,921
- In-State$10,452
- Out-of-state$29,558
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled8,088
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment22%
- AccreditationYes
Missouri State University
- Springfield, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,540
- Out-of-state$14,850
- In-State$5,202
- Out-of-state$10,476
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled23,453
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Lindenwood University
- Saint Charles, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$18,000
- Out-of-state$18,000
- In-State$18,000
- Out-of-state$18,000
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled8,392
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Columbia College
- Columbia, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,912
- Out-of-state$10,912
- In-State$8,602
- Out-of-state$8,602
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled9,913
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment76%
- AccreditationYes
Park University
- Parkville, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,999
- Out-of-state$7,999
- In-State$6,012
- Out-of-state$6,012
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled11,415
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Kansas City, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,920
- Out-of-state$7,920
- In-State$5,904
- Out-of-state$5,904
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled3,038
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
Southeast Missouri State University
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,606
- Out-of-state$12,636
- In-State$5,242
- Out-of-state$9,796
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled10,637
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
Northwest Missouri State University
- Maryville, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,956
- Out-of-state$10,738
- In-State$6,004
- Out-of-state$6,004
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled7,104
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Missouri Southern State University
- Joplin, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,289
- Out-of-state$14,578
- In-State$6,300
- Out-of-state$6,300
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled5,604
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
Fontbonne University
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,760
- Out-of-state$26,760
- In-State$13,950
- Out-of-state$13,950
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled1,199
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
University of Missouri St. Louis
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,079
- Out-of-state$29,295
- In-State$12,007
- Out-of-state$29,477
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled15,988
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
William Woods University
- Fulton, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$23,950
- Out-of-state$23,950
- In-State$6,480
- Out-of-state$6,480
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled2,153
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
Evangel University
- Springfield, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$23,032
- Out-of-state$23,032
- In-State$9,450
- Out-of-state$9,450
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled2,300
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
Missouri Baptist University
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,860
- Out-of-state$26,860
- In-State$10,197
- Out-of-state$10,197
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate61%
- Students Enrolled5,309
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment34%
- AccreditationYes
Drury University
- Springfield, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$28,500
- Out-of-state$28,500
- In-State$8,460
- Out-of-state$8,460
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled1,743
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment22%
- AccreditationYes
How to Know if Your School or Program is Accredited
Accredited colleges and universities generally feature accreditation information on their websites. Learners can confirm a school’s accreditation status by searching databases from the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education.
The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development also provides accreditation information about schools in the state.
The Impact of Accreditation When Transfering Credits
The credit transfer process is one of the most common ways accreditation can affect your college education.
For your existing credits to transfer to a new school, they must come from an institution that was accredited when you earned them. Otherwise, your new school will not recognize them and you will likely need to repeat those courses — costing you both time and money.
Accreditation Criteria for Licensing
While programmatic accreditation is usually optional, there are cases in which it’s required. For instance, Missouri mandates that all professionals seeking initial licensure as psychologists must hold doctoral degrees accredited by the American Psychological Association. Similarly, you need at least an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree to qualify for an engineering license in Missouri.
If you’re planning to enter a regulated profession, carefully research Missouri’s licensing standards before choosing a school or program.
Choosing the Right Online College in Missouri
There are many online colleges in Missouri. The National Center for Education Statistics counts five that exclusively offer distance learning, while dozens of others offer certain programs in 100% online or hybrid formats that blend online and face-to-face learning.
To choose the right school, you need to consider multiple factors, including the following:
1 | Check Accreditation Status
Start researching online colleges in Missouri by confirming the accreditation status of any prospective school. Make sure the school’s institutional accreditation is current and recognized by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
2 | Research Program Curricula and Concentration Options
Assuming you have a major in mind, you can research comparisons of the curricula and concentration options that apply to your degree. Curriculum features and available specializations, concentrations, or minors can strongly impact a program’s relevance to your learning goals.
3 | Consider Program Flexibility
Online colleges in Missouri offer convenience, but some are more flexible than others. If you live near campus, blended learning might interest you. Next, determine whether your online courses use live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous) lectures. Asynchronous formats offer more flexibility since they don’t meet at set times.
4 | Examine Quality and Student Satisfaction Metrics
Retention, graduation, and post-graduation placement rates provide insight into school quality and student satisfaction. However, it’s best not to consider these metrics in a vacuum. Instead, compare them among the schools on your shortlist.
5 | Learn About Costs and Financial Aid
Online colleges in Missouri generally offer a more affordable learning experience than campus-based enrollment. However, some have significantly higher costs than others. More expensive schools sometimes offer better value. For instance, employers may hold them in higher regard, boosting your chances of landing a job or securing higher pay after graduation.
Financial aid programs can also significantly reduce your costs. See how the schools on your shortlist stack up regarding the aid programs and amounts you may qualify for.
Online College Resources for Missouri Students
- Financial Aid for College
Missouri’s government operates multiple financial aid programs for students who need help meeting their education costs. This resource connects you with scholarships, grants for Missouri students, and state-specific student loan information.
- Journey to College
This resource can help if you have a major in mind but remain unsure of your ideal program or school. The Missouri government’s Journey to College initiative offers a college and degree search feature.
- High Demand Occupations
If you’re unsure what to study in college, look into Missouri’s job market needs as assessed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. You might find an interesting profession with strong local demand, which could put you in a favorable position after graduation.
- Missouri Job Center
This resource provides Missouri-specific information about wages and salaries for specific occupations, growth and decline projections, top jobs to pursue in the Show-Me State, and more. You can use it to help identify an in-demand career path.