UMKC got its start in 1930 with a gift from William Volker, a man fondly remembered for his generosity. His purchase of 40 acres just south of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art became the UMKC Volker campus.
Six years later, 80 students became the first graduating class at UMKC. Now, we host more than a dozen commencement ceremonies each year to accommodate all of our graduates.
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, undergraduate four-year course outlines that inform students on the classes they should take and when to take them. Outlines are updated yearly. Graduate students should visit their program's individual school for program outlines.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is the only urban-based research university in the Kansas City region. Our research faculty are focused on developing new knowledge and new solutions relevant to our community’s needs and aspirations; and to enhancing Kansas City’s global reputation for leadership in the arts, entrepreneurship and life sciences. UMKC works in partnership with our community’s leading businesses, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, civic groups, artists, scientists and thinkers on research initiatives that are catalysts for growth and progress that benefits the entire community. In short, our mission is translating ideas into innovation.
The division of Academic Affairs, together with the deans, directors and faculty of UMKC's college and schools, is responsible for a wide array of scholarly and academic endeavors, including the number and scope of degree programs offered by UMKC.
UMKC is located in a vibrant community near downtown Kansas City. The area around campus thrives with shopping centers, restaurants, city parks, museums, theaters and a variety of housing options. UMKC and the city of Kansas City welcome you to campus and invite you to enjoy all the area has to offer.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country, providing you plenty of personal space but also giving you a chance to be a part of a bigger community. Two of our facilities are LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (meaning our facilities use sustainable building strategies and practices).Information Services’ name says it all. IS provides our entire community everything they need to know about how to stay connected and informed. Updates on scheduled outages, email set up for mobile devices, software and AV support and identifying phishing scams are only a few of the dozens of resources found here.
Student Health and Wellness can evaluate and treat acute illnesses and stable chronic illnesses. Student Health is staffed by Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) with physician consultation.
Founded in 1929 as the University of Kansas City, UMKC has since expanded to two campuses, housing 11 different schools and colleges.
The Durwood Stadium and Recreational Field is adjacent to the Swinney Center. Users must enter and check in at Campus Rec’s Welcome Desk prior to use.
Durwood is used for Campus Rec’s intramurals, UMKC Varsity Athletics, and numerous special events. Footballs, soccer balls, and more can be rented from the equipment checkout and used on the recreational field free of charge.With over 300 student organizations at UMKC, it’s easy to get involved. Learn more about the opportunities that await you — and how to create your own. This is your chance to make college everything you want it to be.
RooGroups is your way to connect to student organizations, communicate with other members and discover events happening on campus. Explore opportunities to get involved or start your own organization now!
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. The Higher Learning Commission was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States and accredits degree-granting post-secondary higher education institutions in the North Central region of the United States.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 46 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 687 | 681 | 727 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By TopUniversities
Dropped 200 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 | 1001 | 1201 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| - | 501 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 801 | 801 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Based on 6 reviews
My university has provided me with excellent education and profound career development. My professors were always so helpful and always willing to go the extra mile.
The experience was wonderful, I learned and grew a lot
Never have I delved deeper into myself or grown more in terms of life experiences and interest-specific information. In a sense, the university is a different world. It entails both acceptance and investigation. It blends collaboration and rivalry. It is driven by love and passion. It is both social and academic. It is so much more than anyone could have dreamed, and the surroundings and accommodations are fantastic.
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