University of Missouri

Also known as Mizzou, Missouri-Columbia, MU, University of Missouri–Columbia, Missouri–Columbia, University of Missouri-Columbia, missouri.edu

public research university in Columbia, Missouri, USA

Key facts

Former names: Missouri State University
Motto: Salus populi suprema lex esto ( Latin )
Motto in english: Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law
Type: Public land-grant research university
Established: February 11, 1839 ; 187 years ago ( 1839-02-11 )
Parent institution: University of Missouri System
Accreditation: HLC
Academic affiliations: AAU CONAHEC ORAU Space-grant
Endowment: $2.55 billion (2025), (system-wide)
Budget: $1.76 billion (FY 2024)
Chancellor: Mun Choi
Provost: Matthew Martens

~25 min read

Article

The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. Founded in 1839, MU was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1908 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity."

Enrolling 31,041 students in 2023, it offers more than 300 degree programs in thirteen major academic divisions. Its Missouri School of Journalism, founded by Walter Williams in 1908, was established as the world's first journalism school; it publishes a daily newspaper, the Columbia Missourian, and operates NBC affiliate KOMU. The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center is the sole source of isotopes in nuclear medicine in the United States. The university operates University of Missouri Health Care, running several hospitals and clinics in Mid-Missouri.