Mizzou Tuition: A History of Value and Investment in Student Success
The University of Missouri (Mizzou), like many public universities, has a complex history regarding tuition increases. Balancing accessibility, affordability, and quality education is a constant challenge. This article examines Mizzou's tuition trends, factors influencing these changes, and the university's commitment to providing value to its students.
The Cost of Attendance at Mizzou
Understanding the cost of attendance at Mizzou requires considering several factors. Tuition and fees represent the direct costs of enrollment, but students also face indirect costs such as room and board, books, and personal expenses. To provide a comprehensive picture, Mizzou publishes a Cost of Attendance (COA) that estimates these expenses.
In the 2020-2021 academic year, out-of-state tuition and fees at the University of Missouri-Columbia averaged approximately $30,450 annually for undergraduate students. Missouri residents, however, benefited from a significantly lower rate of $11,475 per year. This difference highlights the university's commitment to providing affordable education to in-state students.
Specifically, out-of-state students paid $28,992 in tuition and $1,458 in fees, totaling $30,450. In-state students paid $10,017 in tuition and $1,458 in fees, totaling $11,475. These figures represent the cost for one year of attendance and do not include room and board. It's important to remember that many students qualify for scholarships and financial aid, which can significantly reduce the amount they ultimately pay.
Comparing Mizzou's Tuition to National Averages
When evaluating the affordability of Mizzou, it's helpful to compare its tuition rates to national averages. Nationwide, out-of-state students pay an average of $19,933 per year in tuition and fees. With its out-of-state tuition and fees around $30,450, the University of Missouri-Columbia is relatively expensive compared to other schools in the country.
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For in-state students, the national average tuition and fees is about $16,784 per year. Mizzou's in-state tuition and fees of $11,475 per year makes it relatively inexpensive compared to the national average. This comparison underscores Mizzou's commitment to providing an affordable education for Missouri residents.
Mizzou's tuition rates are considered "expensive" for out-of-state students and "inexpensive" for in-state students when compared to nationwide, Plains States, and Missouri averages.
Tuition Increases: A Historical Perspective
Like many universities, Mizzou has experienced tuition increases over time. A 2006 audit revealed that tuition at MU had been increasing faster than inflation and personal income for the past 7 years. This trend prompted concerns among students and policymakers alike.
In response to rising tuition costs, Missouri implemented a tuition cap tied to inflation for its universities, starting in the 2008-2009 academic year. This measure aimed to provide greater predictability and affordability for students and families. However, university administrators expressed concern that this restriction could strain MU's finances unless state funding increased at a similar rate.
"If the state supports us at a level in excess of inflation, the tuition cap will matter less," said Cuba Plain, University of Missouri System vice president for budget planning and development. "But if they don't, it matters a lot." Plain emphasized that simply maintaining the status quo would not ensure the university's ability to thrive in a competitive market.
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Gov. Matt Blunt signed a bill in May that limited increases in university tuition to the rate of inflation unless a waiver was granted by the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education. If a university raised tuition without a waiver, the university would be fined 5 percent of the year’s total state appropriations. Gary Nodler, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation was a response to his constituents’ concerns about rising tuition costs.
For the winter semester of 2007, MU charged $8,170 in combined tuition and fees for an average undergraduate course load, up 5.2 percent from the previous year. In June, the Consumer Price Index was calculated at 2.7 percent. Plain said that tuition hikes have been the university’s response to falling and plateaued state appropriations for higher education and rising enrollment.
Factors Driving Tuition Changes
Several factors contribute to tuition increases at Mizzou and other public universities. Declining state appropriations for higher education have placed greater pressure on universities to generate revenue through tuition. At the same time, rising enrollment and the need to maintain quality academic programs have also contributed to tuition increases.
Plain explained that tuition hikes have been the university’s response to falling and plateaued state appropriations for higher education and rising enrollment. "We have a lot more students and less state money," Plain said. "What that means is that you have to really cut the expenditures that have on impact on the quality of what you’re providing, or you have to charge more because it’s really a zero sum game."
This year, the state appropriated the university $413 million for 2007, $29 million less than state appropriations in 2001 but $11 million more than 2006 appropriations. Nodler said that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education is specifically mandated to consider the rate of state appropriations when debating waivers.
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Even with a more efficient operation, the university could face a grim future if state appropriations do not compensate for restraints on tuition. Inability to pay staff and faculty competitive salaries could mean the loss of "the best and brightest" educators and administrators, Plain said. Loss of quality faculty could cause a blow to the university’s reputation and a slump in enrollment.
Recent Tuition Adjustments and Future Projections
In recent years, the University of Missouri System has continued to adjust tuition rates to address financial needs and invest in student success. In both 2024-25 and 2025-26, undergraduate tuition at all four UM universities rose by 5%, with graduate and professional tuition increases ranging from 3% to 5%.
The University of Missouri Board of Curators approved increases to tuition rates for the 2025-26 academic year. “We are committed to offering a world-class education that supports student success and provides more value to our state,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “Over the past decade, we’ve made significant investments to achieve the highest retention rate (93%) and graduation rate (76%) and placement rate (95%) in our history.
“The Board of Curators remains committed to exercising fiscal responsibility to ensure we continue to achieve our mission of education, research, outreach and economic development,” UM Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves said.
Tuition will go up by 5% for all undergraduate students at the four University of Missouri System campuses this fall. The UM System Board of Curators approved the new schedule of fees and tuition for the 2025-26 academic year Monday.
"Today's tuition increases keep our costs competitive regionally and nationally while maintaining our commitment to students, faculty, staff and our state," Todd Graves, Board of Curators chair, said.
For the 2025-26 academic year, graduate tuition at Mizzou is charged per credit hour, with five tiers of differential rates based on program. The minimum tier rate for the 2025-26 academic year will be $551.30 per credit hour for residents and the maximum tier will reach $1,543.50 for nonresidents. Nonresidents will see an additional $826.90 added to the resident rates in each tier.
Mizzou undergraduate students taking 12 to 18 credit hours are charged a flat rate of tuition. Students taking more than 18 credit hours are charged at a per-credit-hour rate for all additional hours. The rates are divided into three tiers based on major.
- Tier One: Includes students from the College of Education and Human Development, some majors in the College of Arts and Science and some majors in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Missouri residents will experience a $341.30 increase, for a total tuition rate of $7,166.30 per semester. Nonresidents will see a $871.60 increase, for a total tuition rate of $18,301.60.
- Tier Two: Includes students from the Trulaske College of Business, the College of Health Sciences, the School of Journalism as well as students in pre-engineering and pre-nursing, some majors in the College of Arts and Science and some majors in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Missouri residents will experience a $388.50 increase, for a total tuition rate of $8,158.50 per semester. Nonresidents will see a $918.80 increase, for a total tuition rate of $19,293.80.
- Tier Three: Includes students from the School of Accountancy, the College of Engineering and the Sinclair School of Nursing. Missouri residents will experience a $435.80 increase, for a total tuition rate of $9,150.80 per semester. Nonresidents will see a $966.10 increase, for a total tuition rate of $20,286.10.
Other universities in the UM System also saw increases. University of Missouri-Kansas City undergraduate students who are residents will pay at least $19.55 more per credit hour, for a total of $411.20 per credit hour. University of Missouri-St. Louis undergraduate students who are residents will pay at least $25 more per credit hour, for a total of $529 per credit hour. Missouri University of Science and Technology undergraduate students taking between 12 to 18 credit hours pay tuition on a plateau rate. With the 5% increase, students who are residents will see an increase of between $393 and $447 per semester.
Even with these increases, university leaders emphasized that the cost of education at UM universities remains significantly lower than the national average. They also highlighted the availability of scholarships and grants, as well as the positive outcomes for university graduates.
Mizzou's Commitment to Value and Student Success
Despite the rising cost of higher education, Mizzou remains committed to providing value to its students. The university has made significant investments in student success initiatives, resulting in historic highs in retention and graduation rates.
Since 2018, UM’s strategy for investing in student success has resulted in historic highs in retention and graduation rates. Over the past five years, the university’s cost per degree has fallen 11% when compared to inflation.
“We are proud to support student success by providing a world-class education at an exceptional value,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “Our students are completing their degrees on time and with the experience needed to launch great careers right away."
Mizzou continues to outperform national averages in retention rates, graduation rates and post-graduation success. It is tied for first among the surrounding state flagships with a 95% career outcome rate. It achieves all of these qualities with the second lowest net tuition per student among flagships in surrounding states.
The university has also implemented programs like Compete Missouri to attract and retain faculty. The average professor at the University of Missouri is paid almost $6,000 less than the national average for similar institutions, according to the Association of American University Professors.
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