2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Missouri
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/business-commerce-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general business/commerce schools.
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2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general business/commerce, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Jefferson College earned the #1 spot for value among general business/commerce schools in Missouri. Jefferson College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $13,664 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $47,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at University Of Missouri St Louis, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $21,538 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $68,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Missouri State University West Plains came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Plains. In-state tuition and fees average $5,936, compared with $8,106 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $42,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at North Central Missouri College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $16,685. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $40,934. That is a strong return on a $16,685 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Missouri Southern State University one of the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $20,737 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $44,262. Set against $20,737 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Mineral Area College placed #6 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,660 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,570. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $46,535. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #7 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $21,853 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $71,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
East Central College landed the #8 spot for general business/commerce value this year. East Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Union. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,680. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $12,062 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $37,925. That is a strong return on a $12,062 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,500 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $22,732 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies generally make around $39,435. That is a strong return on a $22,732 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Avila University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,200. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $32,750. General Business/commerce graduates of Avila University earn a median of $47,530 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,750 median debt. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #11 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $26,000. General Business/commerce graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $43,364 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $71,714. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Lindenwood University landed the #13 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $59,283. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Rockhurst University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,111. General Business/commerce graduates of Rockhurst University earn a median of $70,849 early in their careers. Set against $24,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Missouri earned the #15 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,276. Students borrow a median of $27,999 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Columbia College Missouri earn a median of $53,715 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,999 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences placed #16 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,620. Students borrow a median of $22,732 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences generally make around $39,435. Set against $22,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,499. General Business/commerce graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $74,676 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
