Best Community Colleges in Missouri of 2023

Mineral Area College has an enrollment of 2,500+ students at its main campus in Park Hills and at its outreach centers in Fredericktown, Perryville, and Potosi. It offers associate's degrees in 35+ topics, including education, nursing, criminal justice, and engineering. Vocational certificate programs are available in 28 subject areas, from global studies to machine tool technology. Dual credit is available for qualified high school and home-schooled students at a reduced tuition rate of $60 per credit hour. Honors programs allow motivated students to challenge themselves intellectually while showcasing their skills and talents. Financial aid is available, including Missouri's A+ Scholarship Program; financial assistance and other services are available for veterans and their families. A housing complex, College Park, provides an on-campus living experience for students.

Moberly Area Community College is a multi-campus college with a main campus in Moberley and satellite campuses in Columbia, Hannibal, Kirksville, and Mexico. The college offers a range of 40+ areas of study, some of which are available as online programs, including business, fine arts, and medical laboratory technician. Associate of art and associate of science programs are designed to allow students to transfer easily to a college or university following graduation or to advance in their professional careers. An associate of applied science degree includes vocational offerings such as agriculture technology and mechatronics. Workforce training programs include professional truck driving, fire academy, and manufacturing technician. MACC offers qualifying students the opportunity to study abroad in Great Britain, and an honors program challenges students to excel in their coursework.

St. Charles Community College offers associate-level and certificate programs for traditional college-age students and adult learners. The average class size is 16, and the student-faculty ratio is 20:1. SCC offers college transfer programs in 24 subjects and more than 45 career programs in business, engineering, information technology, and more. It also provides continuing education and business and industry training programs. There are more than 100 courses that are offered online as well as in the classroom. The institution's Weekend College program helps working students earn their degree or certificate in classes that meet on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Forty percent of the students receive financial assistance from the college, with tuition for in-district students set at $106 per credit hour and $159 for out-of-district, in-state students.

Jefferson College is located in Hillsboro, with satellite campuses in Arnold and Imperial. The college offers a range of programs that lead to associate's degrees in arts, teaching, science, applied science, or fine arts. Career training is offered in a broad range of categories, from wastewater operators to cannabis cultivation and dispensary agent. Training programs can open the door to a new career for students or help them advance in their chosen careers. A Small Business Development Center helps businesses in every stage of development, from concept to growth and invention. Customized training programs are also available for businesses through the college's Workforce and Employment Services office. Classes are available both in-person, online, and in a hybrid formula, and adult education and literacy programs are available at no cost to students.

Crowder College is an institution in Neosho, Missouri, with roughly 4,000 students. Crowder also operates satellite locations in Cassville, McDonald County, Nevada, and Webb City and offers technical classes in Joplin at its Advanced Training and Technology Center. Student housing is available at the Neosho location. The school has a low student-faculty ratio of 13:1. Programs leading to an associate's degree include advanced manufacturing technology, agriculture, social work, and welding. Certificate programs are also available in a range of programs, including advanced emergency medical technician and surgical technology. Tuition is $99 per credit hour for in-district students and $166 for out-of-district students, making Crowder one of the most affordable institutions in Missouri.

State Fair Community College's main campus is in Sedalia, but there are satellite locations in Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw, and Whiteman Air Force Base. It offers classes both in person and online. SFCC has skills and professional certificates, an associate of applied science degree and associate of arts, an associate of fine arts, an associate of arts in teaching, and an associate of science in chemistry or engineering degrees for transferring to four-year colleges or universities. The school's innovative Fast Track program encourages adult learners to pursue a certificate, degree, or industry-recognized credential in an area designated as high need. It ensures that adult students will have tuition and fees completely covered when combined with other financial aid. SFCC also offers Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) and England Language Learner programs during the day and evening hours.

Metropolitan Community College is a public community college system with five campuses in Kansas City, Independence, and Lee's Summit. The school enrolls a total of 15,000+ students. MCC has more than 120 degree and certificate programs grouped into eight academic and career pathways. These pathways include applied technology and manufacturing, health sciences, business, and social sciences. Transfer degree programs lead to an associate's degree in arts, arts-teaching, computer science, engineering, and science. A general education certificate is also available. The student-faculty ratio is 21:1, and MCC students collectively receive roughly $33 million in grants and scholarships each year. MCC's main campus is in the heart of Kansas City, with easy access to housing, restaurants, and cultural activities.

North Central Missouri College's main campus is in Trenton, with satellite presences in Barton, Bethany, Maryville, and North Belt Center, with a new location opening in Savannah in 2023. They offer several degrees, fully or partly online. For students interested in transferring to a four-year college after graduation, there are four primary degrees: an associate in art, an associate of arts in teaching, an associate in science, and an associate in general studies. An associate in applied science and certificate programs prepare students for professional careers. The school is particularly strong in its agricultural programs, which include an agriculture and natural resources A.A.S., an equine management certificate, and an agricultural business certificate. Students may use the facilities of the NCMC's Barton Farm Campus, an applied learning environment that demonstrates agriculture production practices and conservation of agricultural and natural resources.

East Central College is in Union, with satellite campuses in Rolla and Washington. It offers four transfer-oriented associate degrees, in arts, science, fine arts, and teaching, along with an associate in applied science and career-technical certificate programs for those wishing to enter the workforce. There are several fully online programs, including A.A.S. degrees in computer information systems and health information management, as well as certificates in the same subjects. The school is primarily known for its healthcare programs. It boasts a 100 percent pass rate for occupational therapy assistant licensure and a 98 percent pass rate for nursing. ECC's Center for Workforce Development designs training programs for business and industry; a Fast Track Career Training program offers job skills programs for those interested in getting into the workforce quickly, with online flexible course schedules.

Ozarks Technical Community College is located in Springfield, with campus centers in Richwood Valley, Table Rock, Lebanon, Republic, and Waynesville. There are 10,000+ students, at least half of whom are enrolled in one or more online courses. 5,000+ are first-generation college students, and roughly 80 percent receive financial aid from the college. OTC features a broad range of certificate and associate-level programs, including an associate of applied science degree in technical fields such as automotive technology, aviation flight technology, and cybersecurity. A.A.S. degrees are designed to prepare students to enter the workforce in the field of their choice upon graduation. General education programs include bio-clinical science, business, accounting and economics, and mathematics.