Best English Colleges in Missouri2026 Rankings
Missouri is home to 38 accredited institutions offering English programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, Washington University in St Louis is the most selective, admitting 12% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $24,761, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $28,590. Median early-career earnings for English graduates in this state average $37,061 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 59%.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
Looking at schools in Missouri is a great start — but knowing whether your GPA, test scores, and activities match what these programs actually admit takes a deeper look.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: English Programs in Missouri
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington University in St LouisPrivate | Elite· 49 | 12% | 94% | $1,863 | $57,622 | 7:1 | 86 | 7,897 |
| 2 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 81% | 80% | $22,950 | $33,893 | 8:1 | 74 | 7,324 |
| 3 | Rockhurst UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 69% | 76% | $20,581 | $63,703 | 12:1 | 39 | 1,702 |
| 4 | Truman State UniversityPublic | Great· 39 | 80% | 68% | $11,125 | $29,001 | 12:1 | 38 | 2,666 |
| 5 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaPublic | Great· 39 | 77% | 76% | $15,707 | $30,488 | 17:1 | 84 | 23,118 |
| 6 | William Jewell CollegePrivate | Strong· 37 | 34% | 62% | $11,954 | $55,771 | 10:1 | 44 | 868 |
| 7 | University of Missouri-St LouisPublic | Strong· 37 | 57% | 57% | $12,980 | $45,770 | 13:1 | 45 | 5,108 |
| 8 | Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityPrivate | Strong· 37 | 59% | 44% | $19,304 | $36,796 | 7:1 | 28 | 381 |
| 9 | Missouri University of Science and TechnologyPublic | Strong· 37 | 73% | 64% | $12,585 | $75,542 | 19:1 | 32 | 5,467 |
| 10 | Drury UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 66% | $19,602 | $26,057 | 13:1 | 59 | 1,367 |
| 11 | Maryville University of Saint LouisPrivate | Strong· 36 | 94% | 72% | $23,346 | $63,561 | 13:1 | 49 | 5,988 |
| 12 | Avila UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 60% | 43% | $15,084 | $46,449 | 13:1 | 42 | 1,192 |
| 13 | University of Missouri-Kansas CityPublic | Strong· 35 | 75% | 56% | $11,602 | $32,054 | 14:1 | 48 | 6,618 |
| 14 | Lindenwood UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 50% | $17,960 | $41,999 | 13:1 | 69 | 4,748 |
| 15 | Evangel UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 69% | 65% | $18,882 | $36,453 | 12:1 | 48 | 1,205 |
| 16 | College of the OzarksPrivate | Strong· 34 | 15% | 61% | $7,275 | $35,171 | 14:1 | 52 | 1,415 |
| 17 | Cottey CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 66% | 61% | $18,588 | $22,183 | 6:1 | 15 | 266 |
| 18 | William Woods UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 74% | 57% | $21,217 | $36,372 | 11:1 | 39 | 1,061 |
| 19 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 79% | 56% | $13,576 | $38,184 | 20:1 | 61 | 6,588 |
| 20 | Westminster CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 78% | 57% | $24,412 | $35,551 | 10:1 | 63 | 592 |
| 21 | Webster UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 58% | 61% | $24,193 | $56,006 | 15:1 | 59 | 2,180 |
| 22 | University of Central MissouriPublic | Good· 32 | 69% | 49% | $14,997 | $41,386 | 19:1 | 72 | 5,653 |
| 23 | Missouri Valley CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 53% | 24% | $17,712 | $36,304 | 16:1 | 34 | 1,274 |
| 24 | Fontbonne UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 95% | 57% | $20,742 | $37,445 | 9:1 | 42 | 632 |
| 25 | Stephens CollegePrivate | Good· 31 | 92% | 47% | $22,100 | $29,823 | 7:1 | 24 | 353 |
| 26 | Missouri Southern State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 97% | 38% | $12,646 | $38,813 | 16:1 | 36 | 3,101 |
| 27 | Southwest Baptist UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 100% | 51% | $20,785 | $43,499 | 10:1 | 43 | 1,339 |
| 28 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 86% | 57% | $13,258 | $40,274 | 19:1 | 61 | 4,550 |
| 29 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesPrivate | Average· 29 | 88% | 53% | $24,195 | $41,468 | 11:1 | 45 | 1,015 |
| 30 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldPublic | Average· 28 | 91% | 57% | $16,688 | $21,392 | 21:1 | 79 | 13,407 |