University of Missouri-Columbia
PublicColumbia, MO
Founded in 1839, the University of Missouri was the first public university established west of the Mississippi River. It is home to the world's first school of journalism and originated the tradition of collegiate homecoming. As Missouri's flagship, land-grant institution, it holds membership in the Association of American Universities as one of 38 public members.
Admissions
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Regular Decision: Jul 1, 2027Apply by Dec 1, 2026 to be considered for priority merit scholarships.
Confirm on University of Missouri-Columbia's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $23,162 more per year in tuition and fees (2.4x the in-state rate).
The lowest of Mizzou's three tuition tiers; many majors are billed at a higher tier.
Tuition & fees are University of Missouri-Columbia's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against University of Missouri-Columbia's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of Missouri-Columbia weighs your application
From University of Missouri-Columbia's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of Missouri-Columbia weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Missouri-Columbia look for in applicants?
Per University of Missouri-Columbia's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates standardized test scores, class rank, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of Missouri-Columbia's acceptance rate?
University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, MO admits approximately 78% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of Missouri-Columbia?
Admitted students at University of Missouri-Columbia typically score between 1150–1330 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for University of Missouri-Columbia?
Admitted students at University of Missouri-Columbia typically score between 23–30 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does University of Missouri-Columbia cost?
University of Missouri-Columbia's total cost of attendance is reported at $31,713 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
What is out-of-state tuition at University of Missouri-Columbia?
For 2026-27, University of Missouri-Columbia's tuition and required fees are $39,324 for out-of-state students and $16,162 for in-state students -- $23,162 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for University of Missouri-Columbia?
University of Missouri-Columbia's deadlines are Regular Decision Jul 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of Missouri-Columbia require students to live on campus?
No -- University of Missouri-Columbia doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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