UMSL ranked fourth on SmartAsset’s list of Best Value Colleges in Missouri. The rankings were compiled after considering factors such as tuition, living expenses and the average starting salary of graduates.
Providing a quality, affordable education to its students has long been a hallmark of the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
More than 94 percent of respondents to a recent study said that the slogan “Serious Education. Serious Value.” accurately describes UMSL. And alumni consistently cite the quality of UMSL’s educational programs for their individual success in myriad fields, including business, education and nursing.
Now outside organizations are taking note of UMSL living up to that goal. SmartAsset recently released its third annual Best Value Colleges study and ranked UMSL fourth among universities in Missouri. It trailed only Missouri S&T, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri–Columbia.
The rankings are compiled after looking at such categories as tuition, living expenses, scholarships and grants provided, retention rate and the average starting salary for an institution’s graduates.
UMSL provides great value to its students with in-state tuition of $8,844 while its graduates earn an average starting salary of $44,100, according to SmartAsset.
“UMSL students are well-prepared to enter the workforce and earn well-paying jobs after graduation,” said Alan Byrd, UMSL’s dean of enrollment services. “We are proud that we can help them launch their careers and that they aren’t starting out their professional lives under a mountain of debt.”
Last month, UMSL received a No. 5 ranking nationally on Great Value Colleges’ 2017-18 list of the “50 Best Colleges for Adult Education. The ranking recognized the ways in which the university caters to older, nontraditional students.
Forbes magazine also lists UMSL among “America’s Best Colleges,” and U.S. News consistently touts the campus and programs such as criminology and international business as particular strong performers.
Media coverage:
St. Louis Business Journal
