2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Missouri
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for general business/commerce students.
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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. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $47,560. Set against $13,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Missouri St Louis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $21,538. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $68,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University West Plains is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Plains. Students from in state pay about $5,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,106. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Missouri State University West Plains earn a median of $42,523 early in their careers. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Central Missouri College earned it the #4 place for general business/commerce. North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trenton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $16,685. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from North Central Missouri College generally make around $40,934. Set against $16,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Missouri Southern State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $20,737 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $44,262. That is a strong return on a $20,737 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Mineral Area College earned the #6 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,660, compared with $8,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $11,175. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Mineral Area College generally make around $46,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $21,853 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $71,045. Set against $21,853 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
East Central College earned the #8 position for value in general business/commerce this year. East Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Union. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,680. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete the general business/commerce program here. 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 placed #9 among the best values for general business/commerce. 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. In-state tuition and fees average $7,500. Students borrow a median of $22,732 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earn a median of $39,435 early in their careers. Set against $22,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies admits about 88% of applicants.
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. Students from in state pay about $40,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,750 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $47,530. That is a strong return on a $32,750 median debt. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #11 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $43,364. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #12 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. 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. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $71,714 early in their careers. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 placed #14 among the best values for general business/commerce. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Missouri placed #15 among the best values for general business/commerce. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,276. Students borrow a median of $27,999 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri generally make around $53,715. That is a strong return on a $27,999 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $28,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,732 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #17 among the best values for general business/commerce. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,166. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $74,676 early in their careers. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
