2023 Best Online Community Colleges in Missouri

Metropolitan Community College - Longview (MCCKC) is a public institution that offers nine fully online associate degrees. Students can opt to study teaching, software development, cybersecurity, and several business specializations, such as logistics, retail management, and small business management. Using the Canvas learning system, students take two eight-week classes at a time, which allows them to earn their associate degree in about two years. MCCKC also has articulation agreements with several Missouri universities, which makes transitioning easier for those students who want to continue with a bachelor's degree.

Online students have access to a wide selection of student resources, including academic advising, career counseling, and tutoring. They are also eligible for financial aid.

Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) is a public institution that offers an extensive line-up of fully or partially online associate degree and certificate programs. Of these, students who want to earn a 100% online associate degree have four options: business administration, accounting, and general studies earned in either a traditional two-year timeframe or an accelerated format. The number of credit hours needed to complete these programs varies, but some require 61-62 credit hours.

STLCC offers a number of student services, such as an IT help desk for those students using the Canvas learning system to access online courses, as well as tutoring, counseling, and career development services.

Three Rivers Community College (TRCC), which is a public institution, offers one fully online associate degree in general studies and one fully online certificate program in library technology. The General Studies Associate in Science degree program is designed primarily for those individuals who wish to develop a broad base of knowledge or whose special interests cannot be accommodated within a typical Liberal Arts degree program.

TRCC delivers its online courses through the Blackboard learning platform. The school may grant some students credit for prior work experience or military service. Online students are eligible for all forms of financial aid, including the Three Rivers College Foundation scholarship program.

Through Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC), a public institution, students may earn one of 12 online associate degrees in social work, health information technology, criminal justice, business, and more. These programs promote Missouri's Core 42 requirements — a set of common general education courses that all Missouri students must complete to transfer to a state university. OTC also has articulation agreements with several in-state universities, which makes it easier for students to transfer to a four-year college.

OTC's online students can take advantage of student services such as counseling and advising, and they are also eligible for financial aid. Individuals receiving Food Stamp benefits may qualify for free college tuition and support services through the SkillUP Missouri program

Private, for-profit Bryan University - MO (BU) provides distance-only education to approximately 200 students. Online degrees are offered in business, allied health, and health & wellness at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels. Notable degrees include an online associate degree in medical billing and coding, an online bachelor's degree in allied health management, and a master's degree in business administration. Full-time students can complete associate degrees and an MBA in a little over a year and a bachelor's degree in less than three years. As a for-profit school, BU accepts all applicants. It has a 55% graduation rate.

BU uses Canvas for online program delivery. It has a low 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small classes that help educators provide individual instruction. In addition to online degrees, BU offers career training programs that award diplomas and certificates students can finish quickly, as well as programs through its School of Trades, including an online solar energy technician program.

North Central Missouri College (NCMC), a public institution, has a 44% graduation rate. The school offers 11 online associate degrees and two online certificates. Students who want to earn an associate degree can choose to study behavioral health, criminal justice, early childhood development, business, and more. These degrees require the completion of at least 61 credit hours, and some programs require occasional campus visits.

NCMC students access their online courses through the Brightspace platform. Online students may take advantage of student support services, such as online tutoring, career services, and library assistance. All students can apply for federal- or state-funded financial aid, but those who qualify for the Missouri A+ Scholarship may receive full coverage for tuition and general fees.