Here’s how Missouri schools fared in the US News ranking of best colleges in the US

One Missouri university is among the top 20 in the country, according to U.S. News and World report’s annual rankings released Monday.

Several more ranked in the top 200.

Washington University in St. Louis was Missouri’s highest-rated university, nabbing the No. 16 spot for national universities, tied with Rice University in Houston.

The private university of nearly 8,000 undergraduate students also ranked 20th among schools with the best value — tuition and fees are $57,386 — and tied seven other schools as the 50th-most innovative, according to the rankings.

St. Louis University ranked 103rd overall tied with eight other schools, coming in at 48th for schools with the best value and 68th among best colleges for veterans.

University of Missouri in Columbia was the Show Me State’s third-highest ranking university, nabbing the 124th spot overall, tying eight other schools including University of Kansas. Mizzou also ranked 60th among the best public schools in the U.S. and 85th among schools with the best value, according to the list. It’s also the 86th-best school for veterans.

Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla ranked 176th among national universities tied with 10 other schools. It also has the 63rd-best undergraduate engineering program in the country and is ranked 87th among the best public schools in the US, the rankings show.

Maryville University of St. Louis nabbed the No. 196 spot overall and University of Missouri — St. Louis ranked 258th, the list shows. University of Missouri — Kansas City was ranked No. 272. Lindenwood University in St. Charles and William Woods University in Fulton each ranked between 298th and 389th.

Missouri State University in Springfield also ranked between 298th and 389th, and nabbed the No. 90 spot for schools with the best social mobility.

Regional colleges and universities

Several Missouri schools also ranked among the top regional universities and colleges in the Midwest.

Missouri schools ranked in the top 50 for regional Midwest universities include Truman State University in Kirksville at No. 7 and Rockhurst University in Kansas City at No. 13. Webster University in St. Louis ranked 15th. Drury University in Springfield earned the No. 26 spot and Stephens College in Columbia ranked 46th.

Missouri schools ranked in the top 10 for regional colleges in the Midwest include Cottey College in Nevada ranking No. 1, College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout at No. 4 and Wiliam Jewell College in Liberty ranking 8th.

How are schools assessed and ranked?

U.S. News and World Report analyzed 1,452 U.S. schools that grant bachelor’s degrees. Their academic quality was assessed using 17 indicators.

Those include graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduation rate performance, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, average alumni giving rate and graduate indebtedness.

Social factors such as athletics and student life weren’t considered.

U.S. News compiles its data from its own surveys and third-party reporting. Most schools report their data directly to the outlet.

To make valid comparisons, U.S. News groups schools by academic mission into 10 ranking cohorts including national universities, liberal arts colleges, regional universities, regional colleges and historically Black colleges and universities.

This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 10:45 AM.