Missouri's flagship R1 research university and first public university west of the Mississippi River, founded 1839.
Mizzou offers more than 300 degree programs across 13 colleges and schools, including the Missouri School of Journalism (founded 1908, world's first), School of Medicine, School of Law, College of Veterinary Medicine, and College of Engineering. The university is one of only six public universities in the country with medical, law, veterinary, agriculture, and engineering schools on one campus. The Missouri Method emphasizes hands-on learning through research, internships, and experiential education. The university maintains the largest library collection in Missouri with 3.1 million volumes and operates Ellis Library as its main facility.
The 1,262-acre campus is located just south of downtown Columbia and is maintained as a botanical garden with over 11,000 trees. Historic landmarks include the Francis Quadrangle with its iconic columns, Jesse Hall, and the Red and White Campus areas. The Student Recreation Center was ranked number one in the nation by Sports Illustrated in 2005. Residential life, dining, and student events are distributed across campus. The university claims to have originated the American homecoming tradition and maintains strong athletic traditions with the Missouri Tigers competing in the SEC.
Of freshman applicants, 78.1% are admitted with an average GPA of 3.6. The university accepts applications for undergraduate, transfer, and international students. Graduate admissions include 146 graduate degree programs with online options available. Applications open August 1 annually. Mizzou also offers online programs with 200+ degrees and certificates at undergraduate and graduate levels, ranked 28th nationally by U.S. News & World Report for best online bachelor's programs.
The university reports a 77% graduation rate, the highest among Missouri public universities, and 95% of Mizzou graduates are successful within six months of graduation. Research expenditures reached $462 million in 2024. The university generates $1.5 billion in annual economic impact on Missouri through UM System research. MU Extension serves over 1 million Missourians annually and generates $1.2 billion in annual economic impact. The university operates University of Missouri Health Care with multiple hospitals and clinics.