Missouri's city of colleges™

Joplin is a regional center for higher education where students from all over the area, the country, and the world choose to study. We have a four-year university, a two-year community college and trade school, a private Bible college, and a four-year medical and dental school. Whether you’re looking to launch or grow your career, you can start here in Joplin.

Kansas City University’ Joplin campus (KCU – Joplin) opened in 2017 as the only medical school in southwest Missouri as well as the state’s first new medical school in nearly 50 years. In 2023, KCU – Joplin opened its state-of-the-art College of Dental Medicine with some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the United States.

Both schools are focused on training the next generation of physicians and dentists who will ultimately stay and practice medicine in the region rather than relocating after graduation.

Missouri Southern State University is a four-year university that offers more than 140 different academic programs for students from around the region and across the world. They also offer a growing number of master’s programs in fields like education, criminal justice, and health care administration.

The university has 75 different student organizations, five Greek life chapters, over a dozen NCAA Division II sports teams, and 16 partnerships with universities around the globe for students who want to study abroad.

Crowder College prepares students across our area to transfer to four-year institutions or to directly enter the workforce. They have six locations across southwest Missouri with a main campus in Neosho that features students housing, athletics teams, a working farm, fine art and career or technical programs.

Crowder’s affordable curriculum is developed by collaborating with area businesses and industries to make sure that their students have the necessary skills upon graduating from programs like surgical technology, alternative energy, veterinary technology, EMT training, and nursing.

Ozark Christian College is one of the largest undergraduate Bible colleges in the nation. Their 15,000 alumni serve in all 50 states and in more than 100 countries worldwide.

With associate, bachelor’s, and a handful of graduate degree options, Ozark students are equipped for Christian ministry of all kinds, from missions and music to preaching, counseling, and children’s ministry. They’ve partnered with Missouri Southern State University to offer dual-degree programs so students can complete a degree from each institution in just five years.