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University of Missouri

Latin: Universitas Missouriensis
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; 186 years ago (1839-02-11)
Parent institution	University of Missouri System
Accreditation	HLC
Academic affiliations	AAU CONAHEC ORAU Space-grant
Endowment	$1.42 billion (2023) (MU only) $2.24 billion (2023) (system-wide)
Budget	$1.76 billion (FY 2024)
Chancellor	Mun Choi
Provost	Matthew Martens
Academic staff	3,200 (fall 2024)
Administrative staff	6,243 (fall 2024)
Students	31,543 (fall 2024)
Undergraduates	24,449 (fall 2024)
Postgraduates	7,094 (fall 2024)
Location	Columbia , Missouri , United States 38°56′43″N 92°19′44″W / 38.9453°N 92.3288°W / 38.9453; -92.3288
Campus	Midsize city, 1,262 acres (511 ha) Total, 19,261 acres (7,795 ha)
Newspaper	The Maneater Columbia Missourian
Colors	Black and Old Gold
Nickname	Tigers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – SEC Big 12
Mascot	Truman the Tiger

The University of Missouri (often called Mizzou or MU) is a large public university in Columbia, Missouri. It's the biggest university in Missouri and the main campus of the University of Missouri System. Founded in 1839, MU was the very first public university west of the Mississippi River.

Mizzou is known for its many programs, with over 300 different degrees. It has a famous Missouri School of Journalism, which was the world's first journalism school. This school even publishes a daily newspaper, the Columbia Missourian, and runs a TV station, KOMU-TV. The university also has a special reactor that helps make important materials for medicine.

The university's sports teams are called the Missouri Tigers. They compete in NCAA Division I and are part of the Southeastern Conference. Mizzou is also famous for starting the American tradition of homecoming!

Mizzou's History
- How Mizzou Began
- Changes and Growth Over Time
Mizzou's Campus
How Mizzou is Organized
- University Leadership
Academics at Mizzou
- Joining Mizzou: Admissions
Student Life at Mizzou
- Homecoming Traditions
Mizzou Sports: The Tigers!
Life After Mizzou: Student Outcomes
Famous People from Mizzou
Images for kids
See also

Mizzou's History

How Mizzou Began

In 1839, Missouri decided to create a state university. This made it the first public university west of the Mississippi River. People in Columbia and Boone County worked hard to bring the university to their area. They raised money and offered land, beating out other towns. The land for the university was owned by James S. Rollins, who is sometimes called the "Father of the University."

During the American Civil War in 1862, the university had to close for a while. Local citizens formed a group to protect the city and the university. They were known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia." Later, in 1890, the university's new football team took on the name "Tigers" in their honor.

In 1870, the university became a land-grant college. This meant it received land from the government to help fund education, especially in agriculture and engineering. This led to the creation of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, which is now Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Changes and Growth Over Time

Fire at Academic Hall, 1892

A big event happened on January 9, 1892, when Academic Hall, the main building, burned down. Only six tall stone columns were left standing. People wanted to move the university, but Columbia fought to keep it. The columns became a symbol of the university's history.

The university was rebuilt, and the area around the columns is now called the Francis Quadrangle. Jesse Hall, named after a former president, was built in 1895 to replace Academic Hall. Many buildings around the quad are made of red brick, giving this area the name "Red Campus." Later, new buildings made of white limestone were added, creating the "White Campus."

In 1908, the Missouri School of Journalism opened at Mizzou. It was the first of its kind in the world.

Over the years, the university has worked to become a place where everyone feels welcome. In the past, not everyone could attend the university. A student named Lloyd L. Gaines helped change this, leading to more fairness in who could study there. By 1950, the university began admitting African Americans to programs not offered elsewhere. A monument dedicated to soldiers from the past was on campus for many years before it was removed in 1974. The university has also faced challenges and changes over the years, working to make sure everyone feels welcome and respected.

In 2020, like many places, the university canceled in-person classes due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Classes later resumed in person.

Mizzou's Campus

Tower of Memorial Union

The University of Missouri campus covers about 1,262 acres. It's located just south of Downtown Columbia and is even cared for like a botanical garden with many different plants.

The campus has two main parts: the Red Campus and the White Campus. The Red Campus is the older, historic area with brick buildings around the famous columns of the Francis Quadrangle. This includes Jesse Hall and Switzler Hall. The White Campus has newer buildings made of white limestone, like the Memorial Union.

The Center for Missouri Studies is a headquarters, museum, and research facility for the State Historical Society of Missouri.

More recently, the Carnahan Quadrangle was added to the south of the Red Campus. It includes buildings like Hulston Hall and the Reynolds Alumni Center. A new area called Traditions Plaza opened in 2014.

Mizzou's sports facilities are mostly south of Stadium Boulevard. This area includes Memorial Stadium, where football games are played, and the Mizzou Arena for basketball. The Hearnes Center is also used for other sports and events. Students also have access to the Student Recreation Center, which has been recognized as one of the best in the nation.

The main University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics are also located near the sports complex.

How Mizzou is Organized

College or school founding
College or school	Year founded
College of Arts and Science	1841
College of Education & Human Development	1868
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources	1870
School of Law	1872
School of Medicine	1872
College of Engineering	1877
Graduate School	1896
School of Journalism	1908
Trulaske College of Business	1914
School of Music	1917
Sinclair School of Nursing	1920
College of Veterinary Medicine	1946
School of Social Work	1948
Honors College	1958
College of Human Environmental Sciences	1960
School of Accountancy	1975
School of Natural Resources	1989
School of Information Science & Learning Technologies	1997
College of Health Sciences	2000
Truman School of Public Affairs	2001
School of Visual Studies	2018

The University of Missouri has many different colleges and schools. It offers about 300 different majors for students to choose from.

University Leadership

Each campus in the University of Missouri System has a leader called a chancellor. This chancellor reports to the president of the entire UM System.

Here are some of the leaders who have guided the university:

John Hiram Lathrop (1841–49, 1865–66)
James Shannon (1850–56)
William Wilson Hudson (1856–59)
Benjamin Blake Minor (1860–62)
Daniel Read (1866–76)
Samuel Spahr Laws (1876–89)
Richard Henry Jesse (1891–1908)
Albert Ross Hill (1908–21)
John Carleton Jones (1922–23)
Stratton Brooks (1923–30)
Walter Williams (1931–35)
Frederick Middlebush (1935–54)
Elmer Ellis (1955–63)
John W. Schwada (1964–70)
Herbert W. Schooling (1971–78)
Barbara Uehling (1978–87)
Haskell Monroe (1987–93)
Charles Kiesler (1993–96)
Richard L. Wallace (1997–2004)
Brady J. Deaton (2004–13)
R. Bowen Loftin (2014–2015)
Alexander Cartwright (2017–2020)
Mun Choi (2020–present)

Academics at Mizzou

U.S. university rankings

THES World	401–500
USNWR National University	109 (tie)
Washington Monthly National University	52
Forbes	116

Mizzou is known for its strong research programs. It's part of the Association of American Universities, a group of leading research universities. In 2024, the university spent $462 million on research and development.

The Missouri School of Journalism

The Missouri School of Journalism, founded in 1908, is often ranked as a top journalism school. Students there get hands-on experience by working at the university's TV station, KOMU-TV, and publishing the Columbia Missourian newspaper. They also run a local public radio station, KBIA.

The university has a large library system, the biggest in Missouri. It holds millions of books, e-books, and other resources. The main library is Ellis Library. During the American Civil War, the library in Academic Hall was damaged by soldiers. Money from a lawsuit about this damage was later used to build the Memorial Gateway on campus.

Mizzou also offers many online courses through Mizzou Online. It even runs the University of Missouri High School, which is a high school for students who learn from a distance.

Joining Mizzou: Admissions

Mizzou is the largest public university in Missouri. Many students apply each year. In 2023, about 77% of applicants were admitted. Students who join Mizzou usually have good grades, with an average GPA of 3.6. They also score well on tests like the SAT (around 1232) and ACT (around 26).

To apply as a freshman, students need to have taken specific classes in high school. These include English, Math, Science, Social Science, a foreign language, and fine arts.

Students who transfer from other colleges need a certain GPA and a minimum number of credits.

Student Life at Mizzou

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023
Race and ethnicity	Total
White	80%	80
Hispanic	6%	6
Black	5%	5
Two or more races	4%	4
Asian	3%	3
International student	1%	1
Unknown	1%	1
Economic diversity
Low-income	21%	21
Affluent	79%	79

Age
Average age	20
undergrads 25 or older	3%
State of residence (excluding foreign national students)
In state	80%
Out of state	20%

Mizzou offers many ways for students to live and learn. The university has 23 residence halls on campus. There are also other housing options nearby.

Many students are part of Greek life, joining fraternities and sororities. These groups are a big part of campus culture.

Homecoming Traditions

Students work on house decorations, a yearly Homecoming tradition for fraternities and sororities.

The tradition of homecoming started at Mizzou in 1911. The athletic director, Chester Brewer, invited former students to "come home" for a big football game. This celebration included a spirit rally and a parade. Mizzou's homecoming also involves community service, like a large blood drive that has set national records.

Mizzou Sports: The Tigers!

Hearnes Center, Mizzou Arena, and Faurot Field

The Missouri Tigers are Mizzou's athletic teams. They compete in the Southeastern Conference, except for wrestling, which is in the Big 12 Conference. Mizzou is the only school in Missouri with all its sports in NCAA Division I, the highest level of college sports. The Tigers' official colors are black and gold.

Mizzou has many sports teams for both men and women. These include basketball, baseball, football, gymnastics, swimming, and wrestling. In the past, the ladies' shooting team even won a national championship in 1934!

Football games are played at Faurot Field in Memorial Stadium. This stadium can hold over 71,000 fans. Basketball games are held at the Mizzou Arena. The Hearnes Center is used for other sports like wrestling and volleyball.

The men's basketball team has been in the NCAA Tournament many times. They have won 15 conference championships over the years. Famous basketball players from Mizzou include Anthony Peeler, Jon Sundvold, and Max Scherzer.

The official mascot for the Missouri Tigers is Truman the Tiger. He was created in 1986 and named after Harry S. Truman, the only U.S. president from Missouri. Truman cheers on the teams and visits schools.

In 2011, the University of Missouri decided to leave the Big 12 Conference and join the Southeastern Conference starting in 2012.

Life After Mizzou: Student Outcomes

Graduates from Mizzou often do well after college. For those who graduated around 2010-2011, the average income in 2020-2021 was about $63,403. Most graduates earn more than high school graduates.

Studies show that getting a bachelor's degree from Mizzou can lead to a significant financial return over a person's career. The graduation rate at Mizzou is 72%.

Famous People from Mizzou

Mizzou has many successful alumni (former students) all over the world. Many have become leaders in different fields. This includes 18 Rhodes Scholars, 19 Truman Scholars, and 150 Fulbright Scholars. Several Mizzou alumni have become governors or members of the U.S. Congress.

Two alumni and faculty members have even won the Nobel Prize: