University of Missouri-Kansas City

Gaining admission to the University of Missouri--Kansas City is moderately accessible, although its acceptance rate is tighter than most institutional peers. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university was ranked 250 among national universities, moving up and down in recent cycles after standing at 230 in 2019. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the undergraduate acceptance rate reached 72.2%. When compared to 30 public research universities with similar rankings, this admit rate was higher than only 10% of peer schools, showing that initial admission is relatively selective within its peer group. Once admitted, students demonstrate a stronger inclination to enroll than at comparable institutions: the university recorded a yield rate of 30.1%, which was higher than 77% of peer schools. Although more applicants are turned away here than at many similar public institutions, the majority of applicants still gain admission, making it a viable target for qualified high school seniors.

Prospective applicants to the University of Missouri--Kansas City face very different testing profiles depending on the exam they present. For the class entering in 2025, middle-range ACT composite scores spanned from 20 to 28, reflecting the central preparation level of incoming students. The ACT remains the preferred exam among undergraduates, submitted by 54% of enrolling freshmen that year. In contrast, only a small fraction of freshmen submitted SAT results, though that group posted a median composite score of 1470, which was higher than all peer schools among reporting public research universities with similar rankings. Prospective students should use the ACT middle range rather than the uncommonly high SAT numbers to understand institutional expectations. High school applicants aiming for general undergraduate admission will find that test performance centered within the low-to-mid twenties on the ACT aligns comfortably with the academic credentials of enrolled peers.

Undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri--Kansas City show moderate program concentration, while its premier academic standings are concentrated in graduate and professional schools. In 2025, the top three bachelor programs accounted for 34.7% of all undergraduate degrees, led by Business and Commerce, followed by Biology and Computer Science. The largest undergraduate programs do not align with the university's highest national standings, which belong to specialized graduate tracks. In the 2026 U.S. News rankings, the medical school achieved a rank of 3 in primary care and 3 in research, while the law school placed 21 in trial advocacy, and the undergraduate nursing program ranked 56 in 2027. For students focused on career returns, technical and health majors deliver the strongest early compensation. In 2023 earnings data, bachelor graduates in electrical and computer engineering earned a median of $83,707 one year after graduation, closely followed by registered nursing graduates at $76,560.

In 2025, the University of Missouri--Kansas City enrolled a diverse community across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education tracks. Within the first-year undergraduate class, Asian students formed a key demographic, numbering 190 individuals and accounting for 14.1% of entering freshmen. Domestic diversity continues through transfer and continuing cohorts, while international participation remains modest in undergraduate programs. By comparison, advanced degree programs attract a substantial cross-border population. In the graduate division, international scholars comprised 873 students, representing 19.1% of all graduate enrollees. Asian graduate students also maintain an active presence across professional and master's curricula. Female students constitute the majority across both undergraduate and graduate levels, creating a campus demographic profile marked by strong regional representation at the bachelor level and significant international integration in postgraduate studies.

The student age distribution at the University of Missouri--Kansas City reveals distinct campus dynamics across academic levels. In 2025, undergraduates under eighteen years old accounted for 29.1% of undergraduate enrollment, reflecting substantial high school dual-enrollment participation alongside matriculated students. Traditional first- and second-year college students represented 24.6% of undergraduates, supporting on-campus student life and undergraduate activities. In contrast, graduate programs serve early-career adults preparing for specialized professions. Graduate students in their early twenties formed the largest postgraduate bracket at 35.7%, followed by individuals in their late twenties. This balance between high school dual enrollees, traditional bachelor degree seekers, and early-career graduate scholars creates an environment where campus life accommodates both standard residential college experiences and career-oriented evening study.

International student presence at the University of Missouri--Kansas City diverges sharply between undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, international undergraduates made up 3.2% of the undergraduate student body, continuing a downward trajectory from earlier years yet remaining higher than 70% of 30 public research universities with similar rankings. In the graduate division, international scholars held a much larger footprint, accounting for 19.1% of enrolled graduate students. Degree completions highlight this division clearly, as international students earned a small minority of bachelor degrees but accounted for a major share of master degrees. At the master's level, international graduates concentrated heavily within quantitative and engineering disciplines, representing 93.4% of all master degree recipients in computer science, alongside strong participation in electrical engineering and financial mathematics. By contrast, undergraduate international students formed modest cohorts, primarily choosing business and computing disciplines.

Applicants considering the University of Missouri--Kansas City have several notable public and private universities located within driving distance in the surrounding region. Situated just 36.1 kilometers away across the state line, University of Kansas holds a 2027 U.S. News national university ranking of 148, offering an expansive flagship campus setting. Further west at a distance of 107.7 kilometers, Kansas State University is ranked 156 among national universities, providing another major regional public alternative. Within Missouri, University of Missouri-Columbia is positioned 121.2 kilometers to the east and ranks 95th nationally as the state system's primary flagship institution. These neighboring institutions give prospective students accessible benchmarks when evaluating academic options, admissions selectivity, and campus environments across Missouri and Kansas.

Campus safety records at the University of Missouri--Kansas City show moderate activity centered largely on property offenses. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 4.7, marking an increase over earlier years after reaching a low point in 2021. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, vehicular theft represented the most frequent report, totaling 62 incidents on campus grounds. General burglary and theft accounted for 26 incidents over the same span, matching the total number of disciplinary referrals logged for alcohol policy infractions. Interpersonal offenses occurred less frequently, including stalking, assault, and dating violence. Overall, these security reports show that campus safety concerns relate primarily to vehicle-related and opportunistic property crimes rather than widespread violent conduct. Prospective students and families can review these multi-year trends to plan reasonable personal safety habits and property precautions when living on or commuting to campus.