Study.com ranked UMSL No. 8 on its latest list of the Most Affordable Colleges in the U.S. based on its quality education at a reasonable cost, with generous financial aid offerings for students. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The University of Missouri–St. Louis has long been a provider of quality education to its students without saddling them with an overbearing financial burden.

In fact, one set of rankings rates UMSL as one of the top institutions in the nation when it comes to offering the chance to get a degree without breaking the bank.

Study.com ranked UMSL No. 8 on its most recent list of the Most Affordable Colleges in the U.S.

The site made special mention of the university’s retention rate – with 77 percent of freshmen returning – employment numbers for graduates and its prestigious College of Business Administration. Study.com also pointed out how generous UMSL is in providing financial aid to its students.

“UMSL students with financial aid enjoy an average annual cost of around $11,000 and 76 percent of them get some sort of financial aid assistance,” the site concluded.

Attributes such as these are why UMSL and its programs routinely rank near the top of lists that measure affordability and value in college choices.

“We are proud of our role in helping UMSL graduates launch their careers without having to deal with a mountain of debt,” said UMSL Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Alan Byrd. “UMSL students have proven time and again that they are well prepared to enter the workforce by landing well-paying jobs after graduation, and we’re pleased to offer financial assistance that helps keep an UMSL education affordable.”