Maryville Recognized as Top Private University in St. Louis for Social Mobility

Pairing affordability with career outcomes to drive real social and economic mobility for students, families and communities.

[DECEMBER 21, 2025, ST. LOUIS, MO] – Maryville University has been recognized as the top private university in the St. Louis region for graduating students into well-paying jobs while keeping tuition and student debt low, according to the 2025 Social Mobility Index (SMI) from CollegeNet.

The SMI measures how effectively colleges and universities graduate students—particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds—into strong early-career earnings outcomes at an affordable cost.

In the 2025 rankings, Maryville placed: #1 among private universities in the St. Louis region, and #3 among all universities in Missouri, public and private.

“This recognition is an incredibly proud moment because it demonstrates that Maryville is not only delivering exceptional outcomes for students at an affordable price – we are also serving as a social and economic mobility engine for the region, ” said Dan Shipp, President of Maryville University. “The economy is demanding a revolution in student success and affordability, and these results show that Maryville is well positioned to lead it. We’re determined to build on this momentum through a bold, student-centered vision that doubles down on innovation, access, and opportunity – paired with a relentless focus on student success.”

Maryville’s ranking reflects steady, sustained progress. Since 2018, the University has moved from 922 out of 1,380 institutions (bottom third nationally) to 643 out of 1,398 institutions in 2025, placing Maryville solidly in the top half of all ranked colleges and universities nationwide.

The survey underscores Maryville’s distinctive position of combining access and affordability with high performance and strong workforce outcomes. Specifically:

• Maryville has the lowest tuition among operating private universities in St. Louis, and the third-lowest overall after Harris–Stowe State University and the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
• Nearly 29% of Maryville freshmen receive Pell Grants, a higher share than Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis – while still delivering strong graduation and salary outcomes.
• Maryville ranks third in the region for both graduation score (94.1) and median early-career salary (approximately $62,000), trailing only Saint Louis University and Washington University.

“This ranking reflects Maryville’s commitment to providing a world-class, experiential education that delivers exceptional outcomes, without a premium price tag,” said Scott Chadwick, Provost of Maryville University. “Our students graduate with career-ready skills that position them for great jobs, without a mountain of debt. That’s how we help open doors and create lasting opportunity for students and families across our region and beyond.”

About Maryville University

Founded in 1872, Maryville University is a comprehensive and nationally ranked private institution with an enrollment of well over 9,000 students. Maryville offers over 90 degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as several certificates that align with the undergraduate and graduate education levels. Maryville is recognized as the third fastest-growing private university in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education, serving students from 50 states and 56 countries. More than 50,000 Maryville alumni globally, many of whom work and live in the St. Louis region.