Students are able to choose from 150+ academic programs and take classes on the main campus in Warrensburg, UCM-Lee’s Summit at the Missouri Innovation Campus, Whiteman Air Force Base, and online. UCM is the only Missouri public institution to offer an Open Options program that is designed to place students into courses that count for graduation and help them decide on a “right fit” academic program. With an innovative Success Advising Center, Career Services Center, expert tutoring for 100+ courses, state-of-the-art learning environments, free counseling, and mental health services, and the only accredited Counseling Center at a Missouri public institution, student support is one of the university’s highest priorities. 

UCM believes everyone deserves affordable access to a high-quality education and takes action to keep costs low. Not only is UCM’s tuition lower than both the Missouri and national averages, but the university also awards $19.8 million in institutional aid and $1.1 million in foundational scholarships annually. In fact, 92% of UCM undergraduates receive financial aid. UCM has also been recognized by the student finance bureau LendEDU for having one of the lowest national student debt numbers.

The UCM Bound Out-of-State Scholarship allows incoming, regularly admitted students to pay in-state tuition and fees for all classes on the main campus in Warrensburg if their permanent residence is in one of the eight states that border Missouri or one of UCM’s Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference (MIAA) border states. UCM also has test-optional admission, allowing students applying with a 2.75 GPA or higher to be admitted without submitting an ACT or SAT test score.

With a 17:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 17 students, students receive 1:1 attention from world-class faculty members who get to know them by name and genuinely care about their success. From Aviation and Cybersecurity to Education and Nursing, UCM professors work hard to provide educational opportunities that will enhance students’ skills and help them discover their career potential.

Students have the opportunity to get involved and boost their résumé with 200+ student organizations, 70+ academic organizations, 25 intramural sports, 27 Greek letter organizations, and 17 NCAA Division-II athletic teams. UCM also offers study abroad options to 60+ countries and is one of the few universities in the United States to offer study abroad scholarships and grants.

Unique facilities at the university include Pertle Springs, a 300-acre recreational and biological research area featuring the Earl Keth Memorial Golf Course and the Audrey J. Walton Clubhouse; the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport, the only university-owned airport in the state, which serves the university and Warrensburg; the Missouri Safety Center; and public broadcasting station KMOS-TV. Also included are the University Farms; the main campus with a blend of historic and state-of-the-art instructional buildings, 11 residence halls, Audrey J. Walton Stadium at Vernon Kennedy Field, Elliott Student Union and the Multipurpose Building. Serving as a cultural hub in central Missouri, the university provides abundant opportunities to attend events and exhibitions of the fine and performing arts.

The university’s facilities also include the James C. Kirkpatrick Library and the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The adjacent Morrow-Garrison complex serves state needs for programs offered by the School of Nutrition, Kinesiology, and Psychological Science.

All programs at the University of Central Missouri are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. UCM is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review among the nation’s top colleges and universities, and 95% of UCM graduates launch their career or continue their education within six months of graduation. 

UCM has earned the 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School designation. Facilities and services at UCM that contribute to a welcoming educational environment for military men and women include the Office of Military and Veteran Services, which helps active-duty military members and veterans make a smooth transition to college life. The Military and Veterans Success Center provides dedicated staff, a computer lab, and a place for study to help individuals succeed in their education at UCM. The university also offers a Military Tuition Package, which helps reduce the cost of higher education at the university, and a Command Pass, which allows free admission to campus athletic events for active duty military members and veterans.

As a major employer, UCM supports a large segment of the local economy and also enriches the social, recreational, and cultural environment. Equally important are the students, faculty members, and employees who make significant civic contributions and are involved in many community organizations and projects. This is in addition to the many civic and economic contributions UCM graduates make every day, from Warrensburg to across the globe, having benefited from their university education and experiences. 

Warrensburg is a 1-to-1 technology school district with students assigned a device to assist with their learning. Students in PreK-4th receive an iPad, and students in grades 5th-12th receive a laptop. The District uses the learning platform of SeeSaw at the elementary level and Canvas at the secondary level. Technology Specialists are available at each building to assist students and teachers with issues. The District also has two district-wide Technology Integration Specialists along with Instructional Coaches at each building to work specifically with staff to enhance instruction and student learning.

The District has a preschool program, early childhood special education, full-day kindergarten, and before and after school child care. Each elementary school has a media center and offers art, music, and physical education by fully certified staff members and services for students with special needs. Staff supporting the education process in each building include a principal, assistant principal, school nurse, social worker, counselor, and Title teachers at each elementary. As students move to the middle school level, opportunities to participate in band, sports activities, and numerous after-school clubs abound.  

High school students can take advantage of the A+ program opportunities, dual credit, and advanced placement classes in various subjects, along with courses in robotics, biomedicine, and broadcasting. Students can participate in the University of Central Missouri Innovation Track, which allows them to earn two semesters of college credit by the time they graduate high school. Additional college credit is also offered through other regional institutions as well.

The district’s Service Learning Program, which combines an academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service in the community, is seen throughout the District.  This program is responsible for the oversight of the Tiger’s Den, where school personnel can obtain items, such as food and clothing, for students in need.

Preparing Johnson County students and adults for rewarding careers is possible through the Warrensburg Area Career Center. It offers programs in technology information management, computer programming, nursing, automobile mechanics, agriculture, building trades, office technology, and cosmetology.

Through the years, the city of Warrensburg and the surrounding areas have been great supporters of the District.  Their support has allowed facility additions and improvements, including classrooms at several buildings and the new Warrensburg Activities Complex behind Warrensburg High School. These partnerships and the patron support of the school district make Warrensburg a great place to raise a family!

Park University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and dedicates itself to affordability, innovation, and quality. The mission of Park University, an entrepreneurial institution of learning, is to provide access to academic excellence that prepares learners to think critically, communicate effectively and engage in lifelong learning while serving a global community.

Degrees are available in traditional academic areas as well as in new, cutting-edge specialties such as computer and network security, criminal justice, and health care management. As one of the oldest and most innovative liberal arts universities in the Midwest, the university is strongly committed to a classic liberal arts mission of preparing students for global professions, for civic engagement, for responsible citizenry, and most importantly, for life.

Since 1875 Park University has provided a strong, innovative liberal arts education to students from all walks of life, who with their wide-ranging career interests and personal goals, make Park University a vibrant, diverse learning community. It enrolled women from the beginning and more women than men made up the first graduating class in 1879. Today, it boasts one of the nation’s highest graduation rates for Hispanic, African-American, and Native American students.

Park University prides itself in its long-standing partnership with the U.S. military and is recognized as one of the largest providers of online undergraduate education to the armed forces. Park’s close partnership with the military dates back nearly a century. In World War II, Park hosted several units of the Navy V-12 program and graduated 835 midshipmen. 

Park Distance Learning was begun in the 1970s especially for students on military installations. In 1996, it became one of the first providers of online classes for the U.S. military worldwide. Today, 61 percent of its students are active duty, retired military, military dependents, and U.S. Department of Defense personnel.

Park University has been named one of the Top 20 Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities by Military Advanced Education. It also was one of 20 higher education institutions, the only in the Midwest, to receive a Success for Veterans Award Grant from the American Council on Education and the Walmart Foundation. G.I. Jobs magazine has also recognized it in its list of top Military Friendly Schools.

SFCC offers four transfer degrees—Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, and Associate of Science—plus 35 Associate of Applied Science degrees in career programs ranging from accounting to welding. Students also earn Skills Certificates or Professional Certificates that lead to quick employment in high-demand jobs. More than 260 online classes plus two complete online degree programs are offered—an Associate of Arts degree and a Business Management degree. 

SFCC offers accredited programs in Automotive Technology, Construction Technology, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Information Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nursing, Manufacturing Technology with an emphasis in Precision Machining, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and Radiologic Technology.

Agreements with four-year Missouri schools ensure earned credits at SFCC will transfer to these institutions: Central Methodist University (CMU) provide bachelor’s degree programs at SFCC’s Sedalia, Clinton, and Lake of the Ozarks campuses, and online; Drury University; Grantham University; University of Central Missouri (UCM); University of Phoenix; Park University; Ottawa University; University of Missouri-Columbia; and Western Governors University. CMU and UCM also offer dual admission through SFCC.

Other programs and services:

• The LearningForce, sfccmo.edu/the-learning-force, offers customized training for business and industry and professional development and personal enrichment courses for children and adults.   
• Small Business Development Center, sfccmo.edu/SBDC, provides entrepreneurs with leading-edge resources, business plan development, market analysis, training, and more. Services are free or for nominal cost. 
• Adult Education and Literacy, sfccmo.edu/AEL, provides free adult literacy, High School Equivalency preparation, English Language Learner, and U.S. citizenship classes on the Sedalia campus and other sites. 
• Roadrunner athletics includes soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, esports, track and field, cross country, clay target shooting, and cheer teams – visit www.sfccmoroadrunners.com for more.
• Fine and Performing Arts, sfccmo.edu/the-arts, music, theatre and fine art performances and exhibitions.
• Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, daummuseum.org, features a diverse permanent collection, up to 15 exhibitions a year, educational programming for elementary and high school students and the community; admission is free. Visit www.daummuseum.org for more.

SFCC also is the home of the State Fair Career and Technology Center (CTC) that offers free technical training to juniors and seniors from 13 high schools in 10 school districts in eight technical programs.