Accounting Schools in Missouri

Known for its central location and mix of bustling cities and rural communities, Missouri offers strong opportunities for future accountants. Its economic cornerstones are manufacturing, agriculture, finance, and healthcare, and each of these industries depend on skilled accounting professionals.

Earning an accounting degree in Missouri can lead to exciting roles as an auditor, compliance officer, or financial manager. On this page, you’ll learn what Missouri has to offer, what to expect in terms of tuition and cost of living expenses, what it takes to become a certified public accountant (CPA), and the types of jobs you can expect to find after graduating.

Missouri offers a blend of affordability, academic tradition, and industry access. In 2025, the University of Missouri enrolled more than 31,000 students, while 95% of graduates began a career or started grad school within six months. Several state business schools offer online and hybrid accounting programs, providing the flexibility you need to balance responsibilities.

The Missouri Society of CPAs awards around $40,000 annually in scholarships targeted to accounting majors, helping reduce debt and empower future accountants. Meanwhile, Mizzou’s Trulaske College offers an annual $10,000 scholarship for accounting students, and Missouri State’s School of Accountancy provides multiple internal awards.

Missouri colleges and universities maintain strong ties with the largest employers in the state, with many alumni going on to work at the offices of Big Four, regional firms, state government, and agricultural firms. Earning your accountancy degree in Missouri can help you tap into a professional network that opens doors for internships and future job prospects.

Missouri has a sizable share of colleges and universities across the state, including 69 four-year institutions and 19 community colleges, providing plenty of options. Nearly half of all students enroll in at least one online class, slightly below the national rate.

Although state appropriations for full-time students are lower than the national average, Missouri does allocate more tax revenue overall to higher education. Degree attainment lags slightly behind national levels, with fewer adults holding bachelor’s or graduate degrees.

When comparing Missouri colleges, it’s important to ensure they’re accredited, which indicates that the school meets academic standards, provides student support, and follows ethical practices. Schools earn institutional accreditation when the entire campus meets these standards, while programmatic accreditation applies to a single field, like business or accounting.

In Missouri, the Higher Learning Commission serves as the main institutional accreditor. If you decide to pursue accounting, look for programs recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a gold standard for business education.

While exploring accounting programs in Missouri, it’s important to think about cost and curriculum and how courses are delivered. Missouri schools offer a mix of learning experiences, with nearly half of all learners enrolled in online learning. With dozens of colleges offering online and hybrid options in addition to traditional campus-based learning, you’ll have many options.

In the next section, we look at what each learning format entails so you can make an educated decision.

Traditional campus-based programs at schools like Mizzou or St. Louis University allow you to engage directly with faculty, join accounting clubs, and connect with local firms for internships. This is an ideal format if you thrive on learning around other people and enjoy campus events.

Online programs offer the same degrees as campus programs but provide much more flexibility. An accredited online accounting program could be a great option if you’re a working adult, parent, or someone living outside the larger metro areas.

If you want the flexibility of online learning without sacrificing the benefits of learning in person, a hybrid program could be the best fit. These programs provide the benefits of both programs without the feeling of missing out on either experience.

It’s no secret that college is expensive, but there are ways you can offset those costs and graduate with less debt. First, attending a public college as a resident student is almost always cheaper than enrolling at a private school. You can also take advantage of several scholarships, grants, and fellowships, allowing you to take out a smaller loan.

Missouri also offers the Bright Flight Program, a scholarship for high-achieving local students. You can also take advantage of the dozen awards the Missouri Society of CPAs offer each year.

Qualifying Missouri residents enjoy substantially lower in-state tuition at public universities than their non-resident counterparts. That said, the Midwest Higher Education Compact allows students from member states to pay reduced rates for select programs. These reciprocity agreements can help you save thousands yearly if you qualify, so it’s worth checking out.

Most scholarships and awards offered by universities are not dependent on your residency status, so these can also help lower costs. That said, Missouri has a substantially lower out-of-state tuition rate than the national average.

The cost of living in Missouri is 11% below the national average, meaning you can likely save money on expenses like housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation. While you may still need to take out a loan to fully cover college and its related costs, you will likely need to take out less than you would in a state with a higher cost of living index.

Accountants work in nearly every U.S. sector, from manufacturing and food processing to aerospace and financial services. This trend is no different in Missouri, where a growing, diverse economy needs more public accounting, financial services, corporate finance, and compliance professionals.

The Big Four accounting firms maintain a presence in Missouri, creating myriad opportunities for internships and jobs after graduation. You can also find many regional firms looking to hire in roles focused on internal finance, auditing, regulatory compliance, and cost accounting.

As expected, most jobs are concentrated around the large metropolitan hubs, although you can find jobs in smaller towns as well. We look at some popular careers for accounting graduates below, but know that many more jobs beyond these exist in the state and need professionals to fill them.

Jobs for accountants in Missouri are projected to expand by nearly 6% between 2022 and 2032, faster than the national average of 4.4%. To qualify for the highest-paying jobs in the state, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree, although some companies increasingly look for those with a master’s degree to fill specialized roles.

Jobs for financial analysts, financial managers, and personal financial advisors in Missouri all offer salaries below the national average. However, the lower cost of living across the state can also help you stretch your dollar further.

To become a CPA in Missouri, you must meet all requirements laid forth by the Missouri State Board of Accountancy. To sit for the Uniform CPA Examination, you need at least a bachelor’s degree. To become a licensed CPA, you must complete at least 150 credits of higher education.

The CPA exam covers four sections. The first three focus on accounting, tax, and auditing, but students can choose the fourth option based on their interests. These include tax compliance and planning, business analysis and reporting, or information systems and controls.

You must also pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) ethics exam and complete 2,000 hours of accounting-specific work experience. You are then qualified to apply for CPA licensure. To maintain your license, you must complete at least 40 hours of continuing education annually, including two hours focused on ethics.