Missouri · Psychology

Best colleges for Psychology in Missouri

Ranked by graduate earnings

Avila University, Rockhurst University and Columbia College are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. Avila University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,957, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Missouri-Kansas City award the most Psychology degrees in Missouri: 354, 251 and 122 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 38 Missouri colleges offer Psychology and award 1,921 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…

Institutions
38
offering CIP 42.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,921
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,647
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
26
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,482
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$99,190
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Avila University
Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,9573452%$16,721$31,000
2Rockhurst University
Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,1522075%$21,890$25,000
3Columbia College
Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$35,6858442%$23,247$29,300
4Missouri Southern State University
Joplin Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,6473542%—$23,609
5Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,2959580%$24,886$26,000
6Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,2265554%—$24,203
7Culver-Stockton College
Canton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,2262139%$21,269$27,000
8Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies
Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,0952843%$14,825$27,937
9University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,79435475%—$20,500
10University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,22412255%—$21,000

Colleges awarding the most Psychology degrees in Missouri

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia Public
354$33,794
2Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield Public
251$29,487
3University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City Public
122$32,224
4University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis Public
119$31,663
5Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau Public
101$30,477
6Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit
95$34,295
7Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis Private not-for-profit
86$25,204
8Columbia College
Columbia Private not-for-profit
84$35,685
9Park University
Parkville Private not-for-profit
70$30,973
10Lindenwood University
Saint Charles Private not-for-profit
64$28,934
Show the other 28 Missouri colleges offering Psychology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic55
Truman State UniversityKirksvillePublic37
Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplinPublic35
Avila UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit34
Missouri Western State UniversitySaint JosephPublic30
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfieldPublic28
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional StudiesSpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit28
William Jewell CollegeLibertyPrivate not-for-profit27
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended StudiesFayettePrivate not-for-profit27
Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit25
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaPublic23
Lincoln UniversityJefferson CityPublic22
Culver-Stockton CollegeCantonPrivate not-for-profit21
Webster UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit21
Rockhurst UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit20
Drury UniversitySpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit18
College of the OzarksPoint LookoutPrivate not-for-profit17
Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivarPrivate not-for-profit16
Evangel UniversitySpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit14
Harris-Stowe State UniversitySaint LouisPublic13
Missouri Valley CollegeMarshallPrivate not-for-profit12
William Woods UniversityFultonPrivate not-for-profit12
Westminster CollegeFultonPrivate not-for-profit11
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayettePrivate not-for-profit9
Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityHannibalPrivate not-for-profit6
Washington University in St LouisSt. LouisPrivate not-for-profit6
Stephens CollegeColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit4
Evangel University - College of Online Learning (Online)SpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit4

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+11.2%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~4,800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$95,830
typically Doctoral or professional degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingActive Learning

What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Missouri

Jobs in Missouri
840
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$99,190
median $99,410
Best-paying metro
$131,330
Jefferson City, MO

Related careers

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$99,190 avg · 840 jobs
Social Science Research Assistants
$61,550 avg · 750 jobs
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$88,690 avg · 590 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$118,600 avg · 250 jobs
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Missouri.

Which Missouri colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+

University of Missouri-Columbia (354 graduates a year), Missouri State University - Springfield (251 graduates a year) and University of Missouri-Kansas City (122 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 38 Missouri colleges offer Psychology.

What is the best college for Psychology in Missouri?+

By graduate earnings, Avila University leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,957, College Scorecard. Rockhurst University and Columbia College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Missouri-Columbia is the largest, with 354 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Psychology program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Avila University tops the list at $36,957. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Missouri?+

The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Missouri is $99,190 (median $99,410), across about 840 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Psychology program?+

The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+

The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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