MoWest top regional public university in Missouri for social mobility according to U.S. News & World Report

Oct. 7. 2025-Missouri Western State University is the No. 1 regional public university in Missouri for social mobility, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

"MoWest has a 110-year history of transforming lives through the power of education," said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, president. "A critical part of our mission as an open-enrollment institution is to meet our students where they are and provide them with the support they need to succeed. When our students succeed, they are well prepared for rewarding careers that benefit them, their families and their communities."

The rankings recognize the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students, and the colleges and universities that "are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants." The social mobility rankings are based on the graduation rates for Pell Grant recipients.

MoWest was ranked No. 80 for Social Mobility among Midwest Regional Universities, the 16th best ranking among public universities in the 12-state region and the top ranking among Missouri's regional public universities.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.