Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Columbia, Missouri
77% Acceptance Rate
University of Missouri-Columbia — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
77%Acceptance Rate
3.61Avg GPA
1247Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$28,948Annual Cost
$63,403Grad Salary
20.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
77%
Avg GPA
3.61
Avg SAT
1247
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1150–1330
ACT Middle 50%
23–29
Avg Net Price
$19,889
Need-Based Aid
20.1% receive Pell
University of Missouri-Columbia is a premier public research university and a flagship institution known for its commitment to academic excellence, high-impact research, and strong tradition of leadership. Offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university fosters a vibrant campus community that encourages innovation and professional development. Its extensive alumni network, top-tier research facilities, and reputation for excellence make it a top-tier choice for students.
University of Missouri-Columbia Acceptance Rate
Admission at University of Missouri-Columbia is inclusive by design: 77% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 77% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.61 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.41 – 3.60
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.16
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Missouri-Columbia Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of Missouri-Columbia follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of July 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 340 days left — Rolling
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
University of Missouri-Columbia reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Rolling
July 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Admission priority scholarship: 2025/12/01; General/competitive/departmental scholarships: 2025/12/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
University of Missouri-Columbia GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of Missouri-Columbia is 3.61. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.31 and 3.61? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.81–4.01.University of Missouri-Columbia GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.61 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.41 – 3.60
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.21 – 3.40
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.20
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-optional admissions pilot extended for Fall 2026; test-optional applicants must submit an essay, while Common App applicants submit the essay regardless of testing choice.
- Dec 1 deadline covers both admission-scholarship priority and the Mizzou Scholars Award, now selected directly from the admission file.
- Missouri School of Journalism is the world's first journalism school (est. 1908), with hands-on access to the Columbia Missourian and KOMU-TV.
- Bright Flight (state award, up to $3,000/year) is available to Missouri residents and combinable with most other Mizzou scholarships.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at University of Missouri-Columbia
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from University of Missouri-Columbia's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Missouri-Columbia Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at University of Missouri-Columbia — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into University of Missouri-Columbia Without SAT or ACT?
University of Missouri-Columbia considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Missouri-Columbia Average SAT Score: 1247
Admitted students at University of Missouri-Columbia average a 1247 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1247 — Slightly Competitive
A 1247 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1330 SAT or 29 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Missouri-Columbia allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1150? A retake is worth it at University of Missouri-Columbia — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 615 | 570 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 625 | 580 | 670 |
| SAT Composite | 1247 | 1150 | 1330 |
A score under 1150 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1330+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into University of Missouri-Columbia with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in University of Missouri-Columbia's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
University of Missouri-Columbia ACT Requirements
University of Missouri-Columbia's admitted students average an ACT of 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — Competitive
An average of 26 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT English | 26 | 22 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 23 | 29 |
Can I get into University of Missouri-Columbia with a 29 ACT?
At 29, you're in the top quarter of University of Missouri-Columbia's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections — English, Math, Reading, Science — are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, University of Missouri-Columbia weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of Missouri-Columbia
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into University of Missouri-Columbia isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Apply by Dec 1 for automatic merit scholarship consideration
Mizzou now reviews most scholarships, including the competitive Mizzou Scholars Award, directly from your admission file - no separate application, essay, or interview required.
Decide your test-score strategy deliberately
The test-optional pilot is extended for Fall 2026, but test-optional applicants must submit an essay - choose your path on purpose, not by default.
Submit scores if they're strong, even under test-optional policy
Mizzou notes GPA plus test scores together best predict success, and scores can support Honors College and specific scholars-program consideration beyond baseline admission.
Apply by Dec 1 for Bright Flight if a Missouri resident
This state award (up to $3,000/year) stacks with most other Mizzou scholarships and has its own separate criteria.
Expert Insight:
Students often assume the old Mizzou Scholars process (separate application, essay, interview) still applies - it's been simplified to draw directly from your admission file, so a strong admission application now IS your scholarship application.
University of Missouri-Columbia Profile
Full Name
University of Missouri-Columbia
City
Columbia
State
Missouri
ZIP Code
65211
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a University of Missouri-Columbia Degree Worth It?
Whether University of Missouri-Columbia is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $66,500, and graduates see a 2.87% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from University of Missouri-Columbia Cost?
Listed tuition runs $28,948/year at University of Missouri-Columbia; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $19,889.
At University of Missouri-Columbia, 20.1% receive a Pell Grant and 34.9% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming University of Missouri-Columbia on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a University of Missouri-Columbia Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, University of Missouri-Columbia graduates report a median income of $63,403, about 56% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Missouri-Columbia. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Missouri-Columbia. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA | 1254 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Missouri-Columbia. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at University of Missouri-Columbia
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Missouri-Columbia Admissions
University of Missouri-Columbia graduates earn a moderate median salary of $63,403/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at University of Missouri-Columbia is relatively affordable, around $28,948/year.
20.1% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — University of Missouri-Columbia skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
University of Missouri-Columbia's acceptance rate is 77%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted University of Missouri-Columbia students is 3.61, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.31 puts you in the standard applicant pool at University of Missouri-Columbia. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.21 or below makes admission tougher at University of Missouri-Columbia, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
University of Missouri-Columbia weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1247, and within the 1150–1330 range, keeps you competitive.
University of Missouri-Columbia's deadline is July 1. Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
University of Missouri-Columbia charges an application fee of 65; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Admission priority scholarship: 2025/12/01; General/competitive/departmental scholarships: 2025/12/01 — that's University of Missouri-Columbia's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
Explore Other Options
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