Mizzou Student Enrollment Statistics: A Comprehensive Overview
The University of Missouri (Mizzou), a public land-grant research university and the flagship of the University of Missouri System, has a rich history and a growing student body. Founded in 1839, it holds the distinction of being the first public university west of the Mississippi River. This article delves into the details of student enrollment at Mizzou, providing a comprehensive overview of its student demographics, admissions statistics, costs, and graduation rates.
A Historical Perspective
To fully appreciate the present-day enrollment statistics, it's crucial to understand the historical context of the University of Missouri. The Missouri Legislature established funds for a state university through the Geyer Act in 1839. Columbia and Boone County citizens pledged $117,921 in cash and land to secure the university's location, beating out five other central Missouri counties.
The American Civil War forced the university to close for much of 1862. Residents of Columbia formed a Union "home guard" militia known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia," protecting the city and university. In 1870, the institution gained land-grant college status under the Morrill Act of 1862, leading to the founding of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now Missouri University of Science and Technology).
A fire in 1892 destroyed Academic Hall, the central administrative building, leaving only six stone Ionic columns. These columns were retained as a symbol of the historic campus and are surrounded by the Francis Quadrangle, the oldest part of campus.
In 1935, the university denied admission to four black graduates of Lincoln University for graduate studies, leading to a Supreme Court case. The court ordered Missouri to admit one of the students, Lloyd L. Gaines, to MU's law school or provide an equal facility.
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General Information and Rankings
The University of Missouri is a public institution founded in 1839. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Missouri is ranked No. 102 in National Universities and No. 49 in Top Public Schools. The university utilizes a semester-based academic calendar and operates under a test-optional admissions policy, accepting the Common Application.
Campus Setting and Size
The campus of the University of Missouri is 1,262 acres and located just south of Downtown Columbia. The campus is maintained as a botanical garden, with academic buildings classified into two main groups: Red Campus and White Campus. Red Campus comprises the historic core of brick buildings around the Francis Quadrangle, while White Campus features Neo-Gothic style buildings constructed from native Missouri limestone.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The student-faculty ratio at the University of Missouri is 17:1. While Mizzou students have access to all the resources and amenities that come with being at the state’s largest flagship, land-grant university, they still form close connections with their professors.
Enrollment Trends and Demographics
Enrollment numbers are on the rise at the University of Missouri. Preliminary data displays across-the-board increases including total enrollment of more than 31,000 students. The full-time enrollment at University of Missouri-Columbia is 26,395 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,618. This means that 85.1% of students enrolled at University of Missouri-Columbia are enrolled full-time.
In 2023, the total enrollment at University of Missouri-Columbia, both undergraduate and graduate, is 31,013 students.
Read also: A Look at Penn State's Enrollment Numbers
The enrolled student population at University of Missouri-Columbia, both undergraduate and graduate, is 76.3% White, 5.41% Hispanic or Latino, 5.26% Black or African American, 3.97% Two or More Races, 2.93% Asian, 0.171% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0806% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.
Admissions Statistics
University of Missouri-Columbia received 21,669 undergraduate applications in 2023, a 6.73% annual growth. 16,690 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 77% acceptance rate. The university has an overall enrollment yield of 30.8%, representing the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.
Costs and Financial Aid
The school's in-state tuition and fees are $15,548, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $37,820. Forty-four percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $19,979.
In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of Missouri-Columbia is $13,008. After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,006. In 2023, 76% of undergraduate students attending University of Missouri-Columbia received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 35% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.
Graduation and Retention Rates
The four-year graduation rate is 56%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $52,756.
Read also: Analyzing Ole Miss Enrollment Trends
The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at University of Missouri-Columbia was 91%.
Academic Programs
Mizzou offers more than 300 degree programs and 192 online options. The most popular Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years concentrations at University of Missouri-Columbia were Other Ethnic, Minority, Gender, & Group Studies (1,253 degrees awarded), Other General Merchandising, Sales, & Related Marketing Operations (92 degrees), and Neuroscience (73 degrees).
In 2023, 10,926 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Missouri-Columbia. 58.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 41.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (8,428 degrees).
Student Life and Activities
Mizzou offers more than 600 student clubs and organizations. The Missouri Tigers are a member of the Southeastern Conference except wrestling, which competes in the Big 12 Conference. Mizzou is the only school in the state with all of its sports in the NCAA Division I and a football team that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Alumni
In 2016, there were 300,315 living alumni worldwide, with 274,447 residing in the United States and 156,585 in Missouri.
Rankings and Recognition
Mizzou is a member of the Association of American Universities and classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity". The Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking) places MU at 60-78 nationally and 201-300 globally as of 2024. Mizzou was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the Best Colleges for Future Leaders. Mizzou is currently ranked No. 4 for best value among flagship universities and is consistently ranked as one of America’s best colleges.
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