EDUCATION
Students set for successThe University of Missouri
The University of Missouri is our state’s flagship, land-grant university and, as a member of the Association of American Universities, one of America’s leading research universities.
Mizzou is a go-to institution for high-achieving students and faculty who want to accomplish their greatest aspirations. Located in Columbia, Mizzou is the largest university in the University of Missouri System with an enrollment of more than 31,000 students. It is home to 13 schools and colleges, which offer more than 300 degree programs, including 97 undergraduate majors, 96 master’s degrees, 69 doctoral degrees and 70+ certificates. The university’s graduation rate (76%) and retention rate (91.3%) are at an all-time high, with more than 95% of graduates consistently finding successful career outcomes within six months of graduation.
Mizzou consistently provides students with hands-on learning opportunities that keep them engaged and prepare them for leadership and success. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mizzou #1 Best Value among surrounding flagship schools and #7 among all flagships in the United States. That’s not all: TIME Magazine named Mizzou as one of the Best Colleges for Future Leaders, and The Wall Street Journal listed Mizzou among the best for salary impact.
As the state’s largest and most comprehensive university, Mizzou’s reach and impact extend far beyond its campus boundaries. According to a recent economic impact report, Mizzou generated $5 billion for the state’s economy in fiscal year 2021, supported nearly 50,000 jobs and contributed $281.8 million in state and local taxes.
A key driver for MU’s economic impact comes from University of Missouri Health Care, our academic health system whose 8,000 physicians, nurses and health care professionals serve more than 350,000 patients every year from each of Missouri’s 114 counties and beyond. MU Extension improves lives, businesses and communities by partnering with Missourians across the state to solve grand challenges around economic opportunity, educational access and health and well-being.
Mizzou looks beyond the moment by making bold investments in world-class faculty, program outcomes and infrastructure updates. These include MizzouForward, a 10-year, $1.5 billion plan promoting excellence in research, student success and engagement; the NextGen Precision Health initiative, focused on developing treatments and solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in health care; and a recent $20 million expansion to the MU Research Reactor (MURR) with plans to build NextGen MURR, a new, state-of-the-art reactor that will produce medical isotopes to benefit Missourians and patients across the country and the world.
Mizzou Athletics has built a championship culture with world-class facilities — including the Stephens Indoor Facility and the renovated Mizzou Arena and Mizzou Softball Stadium — a record-setting academic performance from student-athletes in spring 2023 and an 11-win football season in 2023, capped with a victory over No. 7 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
From research to hands-on learning to student engagement and more, the University of Missouri is a vibrant, forward-thinking community offering endless opportunities to discover, learn and grow.
Columbia College
Too many people have been made to feel that higher education isn’t a place for them – that it is someone else’s dream. At Columbia College, we stand tall and firm in our conviction: Education is for all. Since our founding in 1851, we have opened doors wide for those who dare to dream and strive for excellence.
Whether you’re a first-time college student stepping onto our campus in Columbia or an adult learner deciding to go back to school online or at one of our 25+ locations nationwide, Columbia College is here for you. We offer the tools, the flexibility and the framework for you to build your future, your way. Our commitment to you is reflected in the personal support we extend. From academic advisors to our Student Success Coaches, we’re here, equipped and ready, to provide you with all the resources you need to succeed. Our degrees, many of them available 100% online, are designed to fast-track your journey to your goals. We emphasize relevant career skills, real-world application, because we know that’s what matters.
Our dedication and connection to the military community runs deep in our history, with over 50 years of providing easy access to education for our heroes and their families, wherever duties take them. Our unwavering commitment to the military is recognized once again, as we celebrate our rank on the Top 10 Military Friendly, #4 Military Spouse Friendly, and Military Times 2023-24 “Best for Vets: Colleges”.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Columbia College is more than just an institution. We are a community, a family of over 97,000 alumni worldwide. Learn more at ccis.edu.
Moberly Area
Community College
Moberly Area Community College is a public, nonprofit community college with campuses
in Columbia, Hannibal, Kirksville, Mexico and Moberly, and online. Degrees and certificates can be earned in over 40 fields of study, ranging from four months to two years. MACC degrees can be used for a wide range of career opportunities or transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
MACC’s Workforce Development Center works closely with area partners to provide academic programs and customized workforce training that meet the needs of businesses within our service region. A wide variety of short-term certificates, short-term training programs and customized training are available to help people start a new career, obtain a credential for employment, update technical skills and more.
MACC collaborates with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce on workforce-related issues and others in the business community. This collaborative effort has led MACC-Columbia to offer training in advanced manufacturing, mechatronics, computer-integrated machining and other highly technical fields.
MACC also prepares many students each year for careers in the healthcare field, including practical nursing, Associate Degree in Nursing, surgical technology, occupational therapy assistant and certified nursing assistant. Other growth areas at the college include Early Childhood Education, Associate of Arts in Teaching, Cybersecurity, Wind Energy Certification and Veterinary Technology, the college’s most recent program.
Stephens College
Stephens College, founded in 1833, is the second-oldest women’s college in the country and is located right next to downtown Columbia.
Stephens focuses on the health sciences, performing arts and integrative studies through its undergraduate residential college, co-educational graduate programs or Children’s School. Stephens focuses on two schools – Health Sciences and Arts & Humanities. Graduate degrees are offered in Master of Education in Counseling, Master of Fine Arts in Television and Screenwriting and Master in Physician Assistant Studies.
William Woods University
William Woods University, founded in 1870, has been ranked consistently as one of the top 100 regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report.
Headquartered on 225 scenic acres in Fulton, Missouri, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines including campus, outreach and online settings. It is a private, coeducational, independent, professions-oriented institution that provides both undergraduate and graduate opportunities.
William Woods is known for its strong traditional academic programs like Business and Education, as well as its unique offerings like its nationally-renowned Equestrian Science degree program.
A growing, thriving university, WWU welcomed the largest incoming class of new students in its 154-year history for the 2023 Fall semester, while making groundbreaking new additions in academics (first-ever Ph.D.) and athletics (establishing intercollegiate football).
Columbia Public Schools
The Columbia Public School District has plenty to offer students, from early childhood education to 12th grade, with programs that help prepare them for the work world and post-secondary education.
The district is the fifth-largest in the state and is made up of 21 elementary schools, Seven middle schools, four high schools, an early childhood program and the Columbia Area Career Center. Total enrollment is approximately 18,800 students.
Some facts about the district:
• The district’s graduation rate exceeds 90% and nearly 70% continue their education beyond high school, at a 4-year, 2-year or post-secondary training program.
• Nearly 90% of graduates take the ACT. District scores on the ACT and SAT scores are consistently higher than state and national averages.
• About 1,300 students take advanced placement courses, with more than 70% earning college credit.
• More than 72% of district teachers have a master’s degree or higher.
• The district is ranked among the top 10 for exemplary and innovative use of technology by the National School Boards Association.
• The district is nationally recognized for financial excellence by the Association of School Business Officials International.
• The district is nationally recognized for its efforts to remove achievement barriers for children by the National School Boards Association and the American School Board Journal.
• The district focuses on putting its scholars first through achievement, enrichment and opportunities for success, which includes access to a great curriculum, experiences beyond the core curriculum and interest-based activities before and after school.
• The district’s Early College Program allows students to earn both a high school diploma and a 2-year college degree simultaneously.
• Construction is under way for the Boone County Nature School. The school is a partnership between CPS and the Missouri Department of Conversation to provide access to learn about nature and the outdoors. The 8,000-square-foot school building will be finished in 2024, and Boone County fifth-graders will be able to start programs on the school site. The program
will be used by all six county school districts.
• The district has a long-range facilities and financial plan. As part of the plan, voters approved a no-tax-rate-increase bond issue in 2022 to renovate the district’s Career Center and build a new elementary school in south Columbia, off of Sinclair Road next to John Warner Middle School, among other necessary facility improvements.
Christian Fellowship School
Students from more than 35 congregations in the Columbia area attend Christian Fellowship School, a college-preparatory and Christ-centered institution. CFS has close to 500 students from pre-K through 12th grade.
Established in 1981, CFS teachers and programs help students grow academically, as well as in character and spiritual life. CFS students score on average four points higher on the ACT than their peers in the state of Missouri. More than 95% of CFS graduates continue their education, with acceptance in dozens of colleges, universities and trade schools across the country in recent years.
Columbia
Independent School
About 400 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade attend Columbia Independent School, a private prep school.
CIS focuses on global perspectives, preparing students for college and life beyond. Curriculum is designed to prepare students for the rigorous academic life in college and beyond in the global world. The school has small class sizes, a close-knit community, dedicated faculty – 75% with advanced degrees – and lively and engaging classrooms.
Students can enhance their natural curiosity through hands-on experiences in the Center
for Inspiration, Innovation
and Investigation, known as
The Cube.
Fr. Tolton Catholic
High School
Fr. Tolton Catholic High School, which opened in 2011, is named in honor of Fr. Augustus Tolton, the first African-American Catholic priest in the United States.
Approximately 350 students attend Fr. Tolton Catholic High School, which has an average ACT score above the national average, a 16:1 student-faculty ratio and a strong track record of preparing students for college.
The school’s challenging college-prep curriculum is designed to ensure student success in higher education by offering AP and dual-credit courses and partnering with the Columbia Area Career Center to offer a multitude of electives. Not only are Tolton students strong academically, but the Trailblazers also boast 19 team state championships, along with multiple Individual state champions. Extracurricular activities are encouraged and contribute to the personal growth of students as well-rounded individuals, promoting an appreciation for teamwork and providing opportunities for leadership development.
Tolton Catholic also offers a House system designed to enhance the development of the entire student through the pillars of spirit, heart, mind and body. Faculty and staff seek to make each House a welcoming environment where students of all grade levels come together for faith, fun and fellowship. ■
School listings
High Schools
Battle
Christian Fellowship School (K-12)
Douglass
Hickman
Rock Bridge
Tolton Catholic
Columbia Independent School (K-12)
Middle Schools
Gentry
Jefferson
John Warner
Lange
Oakland
Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School (K-8)
Smithton West
Elementary Schools
Alpha Hart Lewis
Battle
Benton
Beulah Ralph
Blue Ridge
Cedar Ridge
Derby Ridge
Fairview
Grant
Locust Street Expressive Arts
Midway Heights
Mill Creek
New Haven
Parkade
Paxton Keeley
Ridgeway
Rock Bridge
Russell Boulevard
Shepard Boulevard
Two Mile Prairie
West Boulevard