Best BSW Colleges in Missouri 2026

College of the Ozarks ranks #20 in our 2026 BSW program list, placing it in the top 25 nationally. That's a solid showing among the 130+ programs we evaluated.

A 90.0% retention rate shows that students at College of the Ozarks are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $20,800 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program graduated 13 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #120, University of Missouri-Columbia is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school holds onto 93.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $13,008 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 27 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Saint Louis University ranks #130 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

The school holds onto 88.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $52,260 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Saint Louis University produced 18 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Fontbonne University sits at #166 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

In-state tuition of $28,276 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program is smaller, with 8 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

University of Missouri-St Louis sits at #215 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 74.0% retention rate shows that students at University of Missouri-St Louis are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $14,400 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 59 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #219, Maryville University of Saint Louis is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

With a retention rate of 85.0%, Maryville University of Saint Louis clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $24,766 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 18 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Evangel University sits at #253 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 76.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $25,922 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Evangel University produced 11 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Missouri State University-Springfield sits at #259 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 77.0% retention rate shows that students at Missouri State University-Springfield are finding the support they need to persist. You'll pay $7,812 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. With 62 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #313, University of Central Missouri is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

With a retention rate of 74.0%, University of Central Missouri clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $8,325 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 31 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Southeast Missouri State University ranks #344 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 76.0%, Southeast Missouri State University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. You'll pay $8,151 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Southeast Missouri State University produced 39 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Coming in at #419, Avila University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school holds onto 71.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $38,762 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 9 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

Missouri Southern State University sits at #488 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

Missouri Southern State University keeps 63.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. At $8,400 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 20 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #504, Lindenwood University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school retains 66.0% of its first-year students — a solid number that suggests most students are getting what they need here. At $19,900 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Lindenwood University produced 12 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Missouri Western State University sits at #514 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

Missouri Western State University keeps 54.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. You'll pay $7,740 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 20 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Park University sits at #560 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With 58.0% of students returning after their first year, Park University maintains a reasonable retention rate. You'll pay $11,908 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Park University produced 14 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Southwest Baptist University sits at #562 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With 65.0% of students returning after their first year, Southwest Baptist University maintains a reasonable retention rate. At $27,290 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 3 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

William Woods University sits at #563 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With 58.0% of students returning after their first year, William Woods University maintains a reasonable retention rate. At $27,800 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Only 3 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Coming in at #582, Lincoln University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

With 60.0% of students returning after their first year, Lincoln University maintains a reasonable retention rate. You'll pay $7,370 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. With 7 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.