University of Missouri
The University of Missouri, known as Mizzou, is the flagship public research university of the University of Missouri System and sits on a landmark campus in Columbia anchored by the Columns on Francis Quadrangle. It enrolls roughly 24,400 undergraduates and admits about 79% of applicants, with enrolled first-years posting a middle-50% ACT of 23–30 and roughly a third arriving from outside Missouri. Mizzou founded the world's first journalism school, and business, the health professions, and journalism rank among its most popular fields. Rolling admission, a 93% first-year retention rate, and broad out-of-state scholarships make it a steady value among Midwestern flagships.
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Mizzou admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Mizzou does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Mizzou is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Mizzou's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 41.9% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Mizzou does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Mizzou weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Mizzou's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $22,272 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Mizzou admissions
What is Mizzou's acceptance rate, and is it hard to get into?＋
Mizzou admits about 78.5% of applicants, taking roughly 19,200 students from a pool near 24,500. Admission is accessible rather than highly selective: strong grades and a solid course load clear the bar for most Missouri applicants, though competitive programs like the journalism school and the honors college run tighter than the overall rate.
What are my chances of getting into Mizzou from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants are admitted at nearly the same rate as Missouri residents. For the Fall 2024 class, Mizzou admitted 81.9% of in-state applicants and 79.8% of out-of-state applicants, with international applicants admitted at 39.8%. State residency and geographical residence both rank as 'not considered' factors in Mizzou's review, so where you live in the U.S. carries no admissions penalty.
What GPA and class rank do you need to get into Mizzou?＋
Mizzou does not publish an average high school GPA in its Common Data Set, but academic GPA and class rank both count as very important factors. Among the 42% of enrolled first-years who reported a rank, 65% placed in the top quarter of their class and 92% in the top half, so competitive applicants carry steady grades through a college-prep schedule.
Is a 1300 SAT or a 28 ACT good enough for Mizzou?＋
Both score well at Mizzou. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1150–1330 on the SAT and 23–30 on the ACT, so a 1300 SAT sits near the top quarter and a 28 ACT lands comfortably above the median. Most enrolled students submit the ACT rather than the SAT.
Is Mizzou test-optional?＋
Yes. Mizzou does not require the SAT or ACT for admission but considers scores if you submit them. Among enrolled first-years who tested, the middle 50% scored 1150–1330 on the SAT and 23–30 on the ACT. Submitting strong scores can help, since standardized test scores rank as a very important factor alongside GPA and class rank.
How much does Mizzou cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $15,548 for Missouri residents and $37,820 for out-of-state students. Roughly 48% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average package near $20,421, and Mizzou meets about 71% of demonstrated need on average. Out-of-state students can also tap automatic merit scholarships, including awards from the journalism school.
What is Mizzou known for academically?＋
Mizzou founded the world's first journalism school, and communication and journalism account for about 10% of bachelor's degrees. Business and marketing leads at roughly 19%, followed by the health professions at 16%. As a land-grant flagship, Mizzou also runs strong agriculture, education, and veterinary programs alongside a major academic medical center.
Does the application essay matter at Mizzou?＋
The essay is reviewed but weighed lightly. Mizzou rates the application essay as 'considered' rather than important, below GPA, class rank, and test scores in its review. A clear, specific essay still helps in borderline cases and for competitive scholarships, so it is worth writing carefully even though it is not the deciding factor.
Source: University of Missouri Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Mizzou. Banner photo by VoyagerMU, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).