The University of Missouri, founded in1839, provides all the benefits of two universities in one – it’s a major land-grant institution and Missouri's largest public research university across the nation and around the world. Considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions, Mizzou has a reputation of excellence in teaching and research, and is the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System.

Citizens across the state connect with Mizzou by participating in Extension programs in every county, visiting MU Health Care specialists, competing in state competitions in MU facilities and by cheering on the Missouri Tigers at athletic events. Today, through state-wide offices, publications and web-based services, Extension faculty in every county of Missouri continue to carry the benefits of MU research throughout the entire state.

The University of Missouri offers a vast array of continuing education programs through MU Extension (Center for Distance and Independent Study, and MU Direct: Continuing and Distance Education). MU Extension's continuing education units provide courses, degrees, certificate programs, conferences and seminars, along with other professional development activities tailored to the needs of individual employers and industries of all sizes—and their employees.

Among the services available are management training, event planning, online degrees for professionals, on-site courses and programs, independent study courses, industrial safety instruction and continuing education for professionals in law, public safety, medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine and organized labor. Continuing and Distance Education improves the lives of Missourians and students, nationally and internationally, by bringing the University of Missouri-Columbia’s high quality programs and services directly to individuals and groups through partnerships for continuing and distance education.

The University of Missouri offers an extensive selection of online graduate degree programs to help you move ahead with your educational plans while keeping your career on the proper path. From an online high school diploma to bachelor's completion programs to online master's degrees and even PhD options, Mizzou lets you choose the best fit for you from a wide range of online degree paths. Or begin with one of a diversity of our self-paced independent study courses.

MU’s online classes are interactive and follow a semester schedule. This format means students start the course on a scheduled day, at which time online interactive discussions with instructors and classmates begin. Classes typically finish at the end of the 16-week semester. Some degree programs include courses that require on-campus visits periodically throughout the semester.

Admission
There are different admission deadlines for freshmen (September), transfer (three terms per year – Fall (July 1), Winter (December 1), Summer (May 1)) and international students (We urge you to apply at least six months to one year in advance of the semester for which you wish to enroll).

Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to qualified degree candidates who are enrolled at MU. Non-degree-seeking and post-baccalaureate students are not admitted to a specific degree program and do not qualify for federal financial aid. Financial aid includes: Student loans, grants, Curators' and University Scholarships (as well as other scholarships), Vocational Rehabilitation and some third-party billings.