As of 1995, Missouri had the fifteenth largest system of higher
education in the United States, with an array of postsecondary
schools, colleges and universities in both rural and urban
settings. The University of Missouri system, with campuses in
Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla and St Louis, is a public doctoral
degree-granting research university. The nine other public
four-year colleges and universities include both baccalaureate
and master's-level institutions. The state's 17 public two-year
community colleges and 1 public two-year technical college work
with area vocational technical schools and four-year
institutions to provide a state-wide system of technical
education and training.
Among Missouri's 26 independent colleges and universities are
three doctoral universities: Saint Louis University, Washington
University and Webster University. Scattered geographically
throughout the state, the 23 other independent colleges and
universities are as diverse as their locales, from Cottey
College (a two-year women's college sponsored by the P.E.O.
Sisterhood) to Southwest Baptist University (a senior liberal
arts university affiliated with the Baptist church). More than
120 proprietary schools and a number of theological and
technical/professional schools present even more educational
opportunities.
Collectively, these institutions enrol more than 325,000
students, nearly 8,000 (2.7%) of which are international
students originating from countries such as Australia, Germany,
the United Kingdom, Korea, Mexico and India. The many colleges
and universities in Missouri strive to make international
students feel welcome on their campuses, and foster
international education through international student clubs,
special events and exchange programs. In fact, two institutions
- Missouri Southern State College and Webster University - have
missions focusing on international education.
Missouri colleges and universities offer academic programs
ranging from diplomas and certificates in hotel/restaurant
management to baccalaureate and master's degree programs in
computer science and international business administration, to
doctoral and professional programs in medicine and international
law. From our nationally recognised engineering school at the
University of Missouri-Rolla to the sophisticated medical
research at Washington University, Westminster College, and
William Jewell College are acclaimed for their quality and low
cost. Both Northwest Missouri State University and the
University of Missouri-Rolla have won the Missouri Quality Award
in recent years. Two students, from the University of
Missouri-Columbia and Saint Louis University, were named 1999
Rhodes scholars. These are just a few examples of the
recognition Missouri colleges, universities and students have
received for their quality education.
Nearly every Missouri college and university is linked to the
World Wide Web, and some deliver courses or complete degree
programs via the Internet. More than 40 colleges and
universities have agreed to combine their academic libraries,
allowing electronic access to a collection of more than 13
million library volumes.
Brad Pitt (actor), Sheryl Crow (singer), Paula Zahn (CBS News),
Frederick Robbins (Nobel Prize winner), Sam Walton (Wal-Mart
founder), Walt Disney (Disney theme parks founder), Linda Godwin
(NASA astronaut), and Tennessee Williams (playwright) are among
the distinguished people who have attended college in Missouri.
For more information on postsecondary education in Missouri,
visit our web site (http://www.mocbhe.gov). It includes a list
of academic programs offered in Missouri, direct links to the
web sites of Missouri colleges and universities, and more! |
