University of Missouri Kansas City

The University of Missouri at Kansas City has a rich history that stretches back to post-war Kansas and Missouri. The Methodist Church originally planned to start a college but had difficulty obtaining land. Another civic group had the same vision for a school but in a different form. The clash between the two caused delays in establishing the institution, and it was not until 1933 that classes began at what is now the University of Kansas.

Of the 12 schools in the university, the School of Medicine has received the most recognition for its six-year bachelor-to-doctor program. The US News and World Report ranked the university in 2016 as # 194 of National Universities. It is recognized as a “best-value” school as well. The University of Missouri at Kansas City has a student-to-faculty proportion of 14:1 and only 11 percent of classes have 50 students or more. The six-year graduation rate for the school is 63.6 percent.

University of Missouri at Kansas City Accreditation Details

The university has institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, many degree programs carry individual accreditations. Among these are:
• Bloch School of Management degree programs in accounting, both undergraduate and graduate, are accredited by AACSB.
• The Ph.D. program in Entrepreneurship is accredited by the AACSB
• The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. degree program is accredited by the APA.
• The Master of Social Work degree is accredited by the CSWE
• Engineering degree programs, including computer engineering, are accredited by ABET
• And other programs, by department

University of Missouri at Kansas City Application Requirements

Incoming freshmen must complete the application for admission. The school prefers this to be done online. There is a $35 application fee for first-time students. The fee is $45 for those completing paper applications. Students applying to the School of Medicine, with the exception of the six-year Bachelor of Arts –to Doctor program, have an application fee of $50, as do students wanting to enter the music conservatory.

Freshmen may have a composite ACT score of 17 if they are ranked in the top six percent of their high school class. If they are ranked in the top half, they must have a composite ACT of 23 or an SAT score of 1050 to 1080. Applicants must submit an official transcript, which is one that is delivered electronically or in a sealed envelope. Students are responsible to complete any supplemental application documents required by their departments.

Graduate students complete some pages of the online application and apply directly to the degree program or department. They must also submit official GMAT or GRE scores. Some students are admitted as “mature adults” if they have been out of high school for more than five years and if they have fewer than 24 credit hours of college credit. These students must submit the application, high school and any college transcripts, ACT or SAT scores or an ACT waiver.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition at the University of Missouri at Kansas City is lower than at many comparable schools. Undergraduate tuition per semester for in-state students taking 12 hours is $3,918 plus applicable fees. Students from states outside Missouri pay $9,183 plus fees. For graduate students carrying nine hours, the tuition is $3,607 for residents and $8,522 for those graduate students from outside Missouri.

The average cost for room and board is $11,500. Most students require assistance to afford their college degree programs. The first step in getting help is completing a FAFSA form. Within a few weeks of submitting it, students receive an awards letter that details all federal grants, loans and work-study programs for which they qualify. Most students qualify for Pell Grant funds and some financially disadvantaged students will qualify for the SEOG. Neither of these awards must be repaid.

There are also subsidized and unsubsidized loans available through the federal government. A subsidized loan is one for which, as long as the student is current in payments, the government will pay the interest. Missouri provides grants such as the Access Missouri grant which awards $1,000 to $1,100 per year. UMKC also has some in-house grants and scholarships offered under three divisions. Automatic scholarships are awarded with information gleaned from the school application. These include the Bright Flight, Chancellor’s and Curators’ Scholarships. In addition, many corporations and individuals fund private scholarships which can be located through an Internet search. If, after applying all financial awards, students still cannot meet their academic debt, they may consider student loans and/or work study programs that offer a limited number of work hours a week scheduled around the student’s classes.

Great Opportunities in Psychology and Counseling Programs

The clinical psychology program at UMKC is ranked as #113 in the nation by the US News and World Report. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is designed to provide skills and knowledge for an entry-level position in psychology. The goals of the program include developing those skills as well as teaching research methodology and interpretation of behavior to solve problems. It also stresses ethics in psychology. There are 31 hours in psychology courses in addition to the general education requirements of the school.

The Ph.D. in clinical psychology prepares students for licensure and practice as a psychologist, or for research opportunities. The program is highly selective, accepting approximately four out of 100 applicants. Most students in this degree program receive assistantships and/or tuition waivers. UMKC also offers a Ph.D. in Experimental Health Psychology. Courses include experimental psychology, health psychology and “quantitative and methodological approaches to applied psychology.” The degree focuses on research.

There is also a Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance which is offered through the School of Education. This degree contains 39 hours in core classes and an additional 15 to 24 hours in emphasis courses. Emphases available are Couples and Family, Mental Health and School Counseling. In addition, the School of Education houses a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology that can be completed in six to seven years.

The psychology and counseling degree programs at the university prepare students for careers in research or practice as a psychologist or in educational counseling. Because the University of Missouri at Kansas City is in a large urban location, opportunities for both internships and for positions once the degrees are earned are abundant.