Education

You will discover a myriad of educational opportunities in St. Joseph. A child can enroll in kindergarten and complete education through college and never leave St. Joseph.

Nearly 90% of the area's adult population has a high school education or better, compared to approximately 75% nationally. As a result of a community-wide partnership, St. Joseph's high school drop out rate is the lowest in the state at approximately 12%. Furthermore, close to 22% of St. Joseph workers have earned a bachelors' degree, as compared to about 20% nationally.

Visit the New Resident section of our Web site for school address and telephone information.

PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION
The St. Joseph Public School District has a mission of quality education for more than 12,000 students enrolled in three high schools, four middle schools and eighteen elementary schools. The St. Joseph School District is AAA District Accredited and offers a staff with nearly 60 percent of the teachers holding master’s degrees. The system is proud of its teacher-pupil ratio of 1 to 24 and equally proud to have the strongest and most sophisticated technology program in the state with a fiber-optic network running through each school in the district. The district’s broad and demanding curriculum features advanced placement, honors level classes, dual credit courses, and articulated classes that help develop award-winning students.

Residents may choose from a number of quality parochial/private grade schools and high schools. The city's four-year Catholic high school, Bishop LeBlond, offers a teacher-pupil ratio of 1 to 14. The St. Joseph Catholic Education Committee, St. Joseph Christian School and Children First School can provide you with information about parochial education opportunities in St. Joseph.

UNDERGRADUATE/GRADUATE EDUCATION

Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western State University occupies a 744-acre campus on the east side of St. Joseph. Missouri Western is a four-year, state-supported institution providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and newer career-oriented degree seeking programs. MWSU is authorized under Missouri statutes to offer one-year certificates, two-year associate degrees, four-year baccalaureate programs and master's programs. In addition, the University offers some paraprofessional transfer programs, continuing education courses, workshops, seminars and programs suited to the needs of the community. Missouri Western has an enrollment of more than 6,100 students, over 550 staff members, and with contemporary and recreational facilities complemented by a beautifully landscaped campus.

Established by an act of the General Assembly in 1965, the University has its roots in the eighth oldest junior college in the nation. St. Joseph Junior College, when it was established in 1915, was a liberal arts institution for area students usually preparing to transfer to a four-year university.

Today, Missouri Western State University enjoys an expanded enrollment and the strong support from the local community. MWSU continues to serve both the needs of traditional students who enter upon their graduation from high school, and of older students who are seeking the opportunity to continue their education or develop their talents.

This mix of the student body – persons with experience in the world of work, and young men and women entering directly from high school – provides an exciting and dynamic learning environment. It affords all Missouri Western State University students the opportunity to learn from one another. It brings life to the classroom and challenge to the faculty. Above all, it provides the student with a special experience intended to expand horizons and provide rich career opportunities.

Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University’s main campus is in Maryville, about 40 miles north of St. Joseph. Northwest also operates the Northwest St. Joseph Center in downtown St. Joseph and the Northwest Kansas City Center in Liberty, both of which offer graduate degrees in education and business. The Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing, an early-entrance-to-college, two-year residential program, also calls Northwest home.

Northwest prides itself on providing a comprehensive experience for its more than 7,100 students. Students have 180 organizations to choose from. Unique hands-on experiences abound for students, including the University farm, the Horace Mann laboratory school, student staffed publications, a student-run communications agency and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a business and academic incubator. With 130 academic programs available and 75 percent of classes containing fewer than 30 students, Northwest has the same academic opportunities of a large school, but with more individual attention from faculty.

Top undergraduate majors at Northwest include agriculture, biology, business, education, mass communication and psychology. Northwest also offers innovative interdisciplinary majors in nanoscience and interactive digital media. Top graduate fields of study include education, business, computer science and geographic information systems.

Northwest’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a more than 46,000 square foot mixed-use incubator that houses the nanoscience degree major as well as tenant businesses with a focus on technology-based start-up companies. The facility includes state of the art laboratories, and analytical services are available for research or commercial use.

Benedictine College
Benedictine College, 20 miles southwest of St. Joseph in Atchison, Kansas is a four-year residential, Catholic, coeducational college that provides an outstanding liberal arts education for students of all backgrounds and faiths. A unique aspect of Benedictine College is the opportunity for all students to collaborate with their professors on significant research projects. Benedictine's ethnically diverse undergraduate student population of more than 1,200 students including students from 30 states and 13 foreign countries. Benedictine offers numerous undergraduate majors; an executive master’s in business administration and a master’s in educational administration.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION
To ensure a well-trained workforce that meets the needs of local employers, continuing education and customized training is available through Hillyard Technical Center, Vatterott College and Missouri Western State University. Business skills and vocational techniques are offered and a complete program of continuing education are offered as well.

American College of Technology

American College of Technology is an online institution based in St. Joseph that provides live interactive learning in a small classroom setting. Its learning model gives students the convenience of attending classes 100 percent online, while also maintaining the quality of a traditional college campus. ACOT was the first accredited online college in Missouri and the first 100 percent online school in the U.S. approved for financial aid. ACOT offers associate degree programs and diplomas in 15 different areas of study including, information technology, health care, criminal justice and business management.

Hillyard Technical Center
Hillyard Technical Center is a public school that meets both industrial and individual needs in areas such as architecture, computers, business technology, and medical technology. Enrollment: 529 daytime, 1,500 evening.

Vatterott College
Vatterott College is a private career college that offers diploma and degree programs in Cosmetology, Manicuring and Sculptured Nails, Cosmetology Instructor Training, Business, Medical, Computer Technology, Computer Aided Drafting, Computer Programming and Distance Education (via internet delivery). Vatterott also offers customized training to area employers to enhance their employees skills and production. Courses begin frequently throughout the year and are offered during day and evening hours. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. Enrollment: 929.