University of Missouri, Columbia

Founded in 1839 as the first public university west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri in Columbia is a member of the most prestigious group of 60 U.S. and two Canadian public and private institutions: the Association of American Universities. Today MU is a $2+ billion enterprise with more than 35,000 students and 260,000 alumni worldwide. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies MU among American universities that provide the most educational opportunities and the highest level of instruction. The National Science Foundation has recognized Mizzou as one of the top 10 universities in the country for integrating research into undergraduate education. Home to the world’s first School of Journalism, Mizzou offers many strong, unique programs on its 1,262-acre campus. One of only six public universities nationwide with medicine, veterinary medicine and law on one campus, MU also has great strengths in agriculture, engineering and the basic sciences. Four competitive areas are especially strong and growing at Mizzou: Food for the Future, Media of the Future, One Health/One Medicine, and Sustainable Energy. More than 30 percent of MU students come from another state or another country, and a strong international community thrives in Columbia.