Attending an accredited online college in Missouri is a great way for prospective students to earn a respected degree online. There are many online graduate degrees and undergraduate majors for students to explore, including human services, criminal justice, nursing, and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An online degree program at a virtual school in Missouri allows students to complete their degrees with some flexibility, and online schools in Missouri are highly ranked. They also low student-to-faculty ratios, ranging from nine to one to 19 to one. Keep reading to learn more about the best online schools in Missouri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accreditation shows that a college or university<\/a> meets a strict quality standard set forth by the college accreditation agencies, and college accreditation agencies are overseen by the US Department of Education. There are two types of accreditation, regional and national. Both private and public institutions get accredited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regional accreditation is the more prestigious of the two types of accreditations. Institutions with regional accreditation are typically private non-profit and public institutions. Students can transfer college credits from one regionally accredited school to another, but they might not be able to transfer college credits from a nationally accredited school to a regionally accredited school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n National accreditation standards are less strict than regional standards. Unlike regional accreditation, schools that are nationally accredited tend to be vocational or technical colleges and for-profit institutions. Nationally accredited colleges can be less expensive than regionally accredited colleges and usually have higher acceptance rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accreditation is important for college because it shows that the school meets the education quality standards outlined by the accrediting body and the US government. These standards help to standardize education, streamline admissions, increase the credibility of degrees earned, and facilitate financial aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can find out whether an online college in Missouri is accredited through the US Department of Education\u2019s database, the national or regional accrediting agency website, or on the school\u2019s official website. If you are having trouble finding information about a school\u2019s accreditation status, you can also reach out to that school directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the US Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs<\/a> website to find university accreditation is simple. Once you open the website, type the school\u2019s name in the search box and click search. If more than one school search result populates, select the correct school to see the name of the accrediting agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The regional accrediting agency for colleges in Missouri is the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). To find out if a school is accredited by the HLC, go to the HLC institution directory website<\/a>. Type the school\u2019s name in the search box, select the state, and click the Search button. The results will show you if that school is accredited or not by the HLC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Distance learners who want to find out if their online college is accredited can always go to the school\u2019s official website. The school or online program\u2019s home page often has the accreditation listed at the bottom of the page. You can also find this information on the about page or by searching the website with the keyword \u201caccreditation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nRegionally Accredited Online Colleges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Nationally Accredited Online Colleges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why Is Accreditation Important for College?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Find an Accredited Online College in Missouri<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Check the US Department of Education\u2019s Database<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Search for Colleges on the Regional Accrediting Agency\u2019s Website<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Visit the School\u2019s Official Website<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top 10 Accredited Online Colleges in Missouri: Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
| Ranking<\/th>\n | Online College<\/th>\n | Accreditation<\/th>\n | Graduation Rate<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1<\/td>\n | Saint Louis University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 69%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 2<\/td>\n | University of Missouri – Columbia<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 68%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 3<\/td>\n | Webster University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 64%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 4<\/td>\n | Drury University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 63%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 5<\/td>\n | Maryville University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 57%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 6<\/td>\n | Lindenwood University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 54%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 7<\/td>\n | Missouri Baptist University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 52%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 8<\/td>\n | Northwest Missouri State University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 51%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 9<\/td>\n | Southeast Missouri State University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 49%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n |
| 10<\/td>\n | Park University<\/td>\n | Higher Learning Commission (regional)<\/td>\n | 25%<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n How We Ranked the Best Accredited Online Colleges in Missouri<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe ranked the best accredited online colleges in Missouri by looking at the graduation rates of various institutions that offer fully online degree programs. The information in the table above comes from the schools\u2019 official websites, the US Department of Education\u2019s database of accredited schools, and the US Department of Education\u2019s College Scorecard tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Accredited Online Colleges in Missouri: Deep Dive<\/h2>\n\n\n\nOnline universities should be accredited just like in-person courses, and the best accredited online colleges in Missouri have a wide variety of degrees that are in high demand for working adults. The schools on our list have both graduate and undergraduate degree<\/a> programs for online learners.<\/p>\n\n\n |