Overview

Since 1905 Northwest Missouri State has been offering quality education at a low cost. Located in Maryville, Missouri, we are a 4-year, public university with over 8,500 students, and about 850 international students from more than 40 countries.  

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission’s North Central Association, Northwest has several regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized programs of study, including:  

• Computer Science
• Emergency & Disaster Management
• Business (Accounting, Economics, International Business, Management, Marketing)
• Biomedical Sciences
• Information Systems
• Graphic Design/Interactive Digital Media
• Cybersecurity
• Geographic Information Science
• Data Sciences/Analytics
• Communication and Mass Media
• Fine and Performing Arts

Your Place to Learn 

With over 140 Bachelor’s and 40 Master’s programs, Northwest offers degree programs in many disciplines. All classes are taught by professors, with an average class size of 26 students. 

Students have many opportunities for directed research, as well as activities beyond the classroom to apply what they’ve learned.  Our award-winning faculty (STEMMY award, Fulbrights, Missouri Teaching Excellence award to name a few) are student-focused and willing to help and work with students inside and outside the classroom. All this translates into being Career-Ready when you graduate!

Your Place to Save

Northwest has scholarships for ALL undergraduate students.  Our Northwest International Achievement Scholarship gives undergraduate and transfer students in-state tuition, a savings of $7078 per year. And our Merit Award ranges from $1,000-$4,000. Computer Science and Information Systems Graduate students receive a $500 first-term award.  

Before scholarships, a full year at Northwest for undergraduates—inclusive of ALL expenses—is $29,821 USD.  That includes tuition, housing, meals, laptop, textbooks, campus activities, fitness center, WiFi, Academic Support, orientation, airport pickup, and insurance. With scholarships, you may pay as little as $17,580 USD per year!

Your Place to Succeed

Northwest Missouri State has been ranked among the top 30 SAFEST universities in the United States.  U.S. News & World Report ranks Northwest the #1 Moderately Selective Public University in Missouri, and #21 in the Midwestern Region.

In 2017 and 2018, Zippia.com listed Northwest Missouri State the Best University in Missouri for getting a job, rating higher than top schools in California, Florida, Washington, and Arizona.

Northwest boasts a job placement rate of 97% for undergraduates and 99% for graduate students, and students may receive career counseling and assistance from our Career Services office.

Your Place to Call Home

Maryville is a small, rural community of 12,000 in the Midwest.  People here are friendly, welcoming, and eager to help.  While Kansas City is about 90 minutes away, Northwest hosts many big city events—lectures, concerts, plays, sporting events, movies—on campus, all free to students.  

And we have over 200 student organizations to get involved in outside the classroom.

Quality academics, personal attention inside and outside the classroom, generous scholarships, and a safe and nurturing environment—all this adds up to the Northwest difference!