Why St. Louis Offers the Best Combination of Value, Academics and Experience for Masters Students

With acclaimed research universities, an abundance of hands-on learning opportunities and an affordable Midwestern hub experiencing an entrepreneurial resurgence, St. Louis provides master‘s students unmatched access to rewarding academic experiences and thriving career prospects after graduation.

Just over three hours from Chicago and Indianapolis plus major airline hubs, the St. Louis metropolitan area appeals as an accessible center of higher learning in America‘s heartland. The Mississippi River fostered St. Louis‘s ascent as a major 19th century port city, with an ethnically diverse populace still reflected throughout the region along with strong blue-collar work ethics.

Major corporate headquarters spanning agriculture giant Bunge North America to financial firms Edward Jones and Stifel have established deep ties with local universities to develop top talent. While offering dynamic economies of scale, the St. Louis job market provides greater approachability for grads compared to tier one markets on the coasts.

St. Louis Universities Offer Notable Quality and Value

St. Louis hosts several standout graduate schools providing stellar academic programming at reasonable tuition rates compared to many peer private institutions, particularly given generous scholarships and assistantships opportunities. Widely respected for their research profiles and career networking access for students, highlighted St. Louis universities with strong masters options include:

Washington University in St. Louis

With an impressive $8.9 billion endowment, Washington University in St. Louis channels substantial resources towards empowering graduate students to maximize their ambitions through project-based learning and research initiatives solving major problems.

U.S. News and World Report‘s latest national university rankings placed Washington University #16 among private institutions while citing standouts like the #3 ranked Brown School of Social Work, #7 Olin Business School and top quartile School of Engineering and Applied Science along with BioMed 21 life sciences ecosystem.

• 81 masters degrees offered
• 16:1 grad student to faculty ratio
• Average grad tuition: $$39,462

Notable masters options include #3 ranked occupational therapy, #10 master of public health, top 10 environmental and mechanical engineering, #13 data analytics and computational finance and highly selective MFA programs.

With 44% of master‘s students receiving assistantships or tuition remission, Washington‘s strong endowment facilitates greater inclusion through need-based financial aid. Assistantships also deliver valuable teaching and research experience. The university recently implemented test-optional admission policies for 2021 entrants and beyond, removing bias from entrance barriers.

Saint Louis University

Founded in 1818 just after St. Louis became incorporated, Saint Louis University holds the distinction as one of the oldest Jesuit universities in the United States. SLU channels over $1 billion towards R&D annually.

The Wall Street Journal ranked SLU #3 nationally for grad student career outcomes in 2021. SLU tied for #97 among national universities within U.S. News and World Report‘s rankings citing strengths like the Doisy College of Health Sciences and Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.

• 132 masters degrees offered
• 14:1 grad student to faculty ratio
• Average grad tuition: $20,760

Highlights of SLU‘s masters programming include healthcare fields like physical therapy (#27 nationally with 95% board exam pass rate) and speech pathology. SLU‘s top 30 ranked family nurse practitioner specialty within the nursing school addresses urgent primary care shortages.

The business school provides an affordable alternative to elite privates, with the Master of Accounting emphasizing CPA exam prep through course waivers. With the ability to cross-register for law classes, joint MBA/JD programs provide attractive diversity in manager-to-expert career paths.

Over 50% of SLU master‘s students receive scholarships or graduate assistant roles. Need-blind admission practices expand access for meritorious applicants regardless of socioeconomic status.

Maryville University

After starting as a Catholic women‘s college, Maryville University has blossomed into a comprehensive institution with several nationally ranked colleges serving over 9,400 students. Maryville seeks to serve underrepresented groups through community partnerships – for example, the Wellness Center assists vulnerable youth.

Maryville‘s Walker College of Health Professions ranks among Missouri‘s largest providers of physical therapy, occupational therapy and medical/health degrees. U.S. News ranks Maryville as the #14 Midwest Regional University while highlighting its clinical opportunities.

• 37 masters degrees offered
• 12:1 student to faculty ratio
• Average grad tuition: $15,690

Maryville master‘s students pursue analytics, counseling, higher education, real estate and a spectrum of allied health concentrations including gerontology, palliative care and health informatics. Graduate students receive abundant experiential learning through the Maryville Teaching & Research Lab Clinic.

Small class sizes taught by practicing nurse practitioners, scientists and other professionals enable impactful mentoring and hands-on development. Over 85% of Maryville master‘s students secure tuition assistance through institutional scholarships or assistant roles.

St. Louis Graduate Students Gain Valuable Experience

Ranges of opportunities for students to apply their developing expertise prepare St. Louis master‘s graduates to outpace peers from other regions vying for premier roles.

Research Institutes Tackling Global Challenges

Research-focused universities in St. Louis encourage talented graduate students to collaborate with cross-disciplinary faculty tackling major global health, social, environmental and technology challenges. These efforts shine light on systemic issues impacting underserved groups.

Washington University coalesces research strengths across life sciences, data science, climate resilience, humanities and medical disciplines through over 35 innovative centers and institutes funded by over $700 million in annual R&D investments.

Saint Louis University funnels over $1 billion towards annual research initiatives like the Center for Health Outcomes Research analyzing treatment effectiveness and Center for Vaccine Development assessing vaccines for diseases afflicting vulnerable populations internationally.

Students access open doors to participate in these groundbreaking research initiatives, building credentials through co-author credits in premier publications like Nature and Stanford Social Innovation Review. Hands-on contributions develop complex problem-solving abilities while expanding scientific acumen to catalyze future healthcare innovations.

Corporate Partnerships Offering Real-World Application

Major St. Louis corporations closely interface with graduate programs by supplying data for analytics application, sponsored capstones solving tangible business challenges and competitive co-ops placements:

• Retail analytics masters students have partnered with Walmart and supermarket chain Schnucks on purchasing analytics aimed at reducing waste and improving supply chain efficiencies.

• Maryville University health informatics students have collaborated with Mercy Hospital network to build needed IT systems, providing mutual value.

• At Washington University‘s Skandalaris Center, over 90 companies annually sponsor practicum projects for Olin MBA teams. Students have built MVP solutions adopted by corporate partners like Centene, Save-A-Lot and Rawlings.

These win-win partnerships between graduate programs and employers provide students with resume-boosting collaborative experiences valued by recruiters.

Higher Education Reform Initiatives Expand Access and Support

Several St. Louis universities have implemented progressive initiatives expanding accessibility and nurturing student success, especially among historically marginalized groups:

Washington University

• Went test-optional for graduate admissions, removing bias barriers
• Covers 100% of demonstrated financial need for PhDs with 5-year packages
• Fast Track one-year accelerated pathway for non-traditional students

Saint Louis University

• Partners with historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions to create graduate access pathways
• Offers microgrants for emergency expenses threatening degree completion
• operate an embedded Food Pantry and clothing closet for resource-challenged students

UMSL

*00457 Waives GRE requirements for 130+ undergraduate programs

• MetroLink light rail subsidies reduce transportation barriers to access
• Child Development Center on campus enables affordable childcare

These progressive measures expand pathways for disadvantaged students via needs-based assistance while shortening time-to-completion through accelerated degree options. Support services foster holistic wellness and graduation persistence rates.

St. Louis Offers Surprising Affordability and Appeal

While not as cheap as some rural college towns, St. Louis provides very reasonable affordability given proximity to major Midwest metro areas. Cost conscious students appreciate the lower Midwestern price points for housing, food, utilities and transportation.

Abundant universities within the region prevents hyper-inflation of rental rates often seen in tier one cities with scarce student housing stock near elite campuses. Master‘s students find good values for residential lofts and apartments across eclectic neighborhoods like The Grove, Soulard, Tower Grove and Lafayette Square.

Public transit subsidies along with ride share services and bikeable density provide car-free mobility options that reduce transportation expenses. Students traveling home or around the region utilize budget carriers within St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Outside studying, graduate students immerse themselves in St. Louis‘s cultural playground – from world-class attractions like the St. Louis Symphony at Powell Hall to raucous Blues hockey fans at Enterprise Arena to relaxing afternoons people watching with chess players in Forest Park. The low cost of living affords taking advantage of these urban assets.

Abundant Opportunities Enable St. Louis Master‘s Grads to Thrive

The unique blend of top-caliber yet affordable universities, career-accelerating experiential learning and desirable Midwestern lifestyle found in St. Louis empowers graduate students to make the most of their credentials and ambitions.

Master‘s students thrive in the Gateway City given research, mentoring and internship opportunities unavailable within crowded coastal markets. Hands-on collaboration also appeals more to Midwest work ethics versus theoretical ivory tower insulation.

No longer reliant on a handful of major corporate employers, St. Louis‘ diversified economy now stems from life sciences innovation, financial services, agricultural technology and logistics sectors less impacted by recessions. Multiple target industry options provide masters graduates flexibility and leverage.

Overall, St. Louis strikes the ideal balance between providing graduate students both vibrant amenities and career-launching connections wrapped into a very reasonable price point. There‘s good reason Master‘s candidates around the world have decided the St. Louis region optimizes their futures.