


Courtesy of University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) began in 1933 as the privately established University of Kansas City. It joined the University of Missouri system in 1963 and took its present name. That change made it a public university while retaining its Kansas City location and ties to the region.
UMKC now combines undergraduate study with graduate and professional education. Its health-professions programs and Health Sciences District are important parts of its present-day identity, alongside the main campus near Rockhill Road. Prospective students should distinguish UMKC from the University of Missouri's other campuses: admissions, programs and campus services are not necessarily interchangeable across the system.
UMKC offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional study through schools spanning the arts, sciences, business, education, engineering and health professions. Its academic organization includes the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Science and Engineering, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, Conservatory, and School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences.
Professional and health-related schools include Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Health Studies, and Pharmacy. Examples of fields students can investigate include computer science, engineering, business, music, education and nursing. Entry to a university does not automatically mean entry to a particular major or professional program; applicants should check that program's prerequisites, application route and accreditation.
UMKC is a public university in Kansas City, Missouri. Its main campus is in the urban area near Rockhill Road, while health-professions teaching also takes place in the Health Sciences District, closer to the city's hospital and clinical facilities.
The separate locations matter when planning classes, clinical placements and travel between them. Students can consider local bus service, driving and campus parking; first-year students are permitted to park a car on campus. Kansas City International Airport serves the region, though routine commuting is the more consequential transportation question for most students.
UMKC's stated mission centers on educating students, advancing research and creative work, and serving Kansas City and the surrounding region. Its public-university identity connects academic study with professional preparation and community engagement.
Those priorities help explain the breadth of its programs, including professional education and the arts. They are institutional aims, not evidence that every student will have the same research, clinical or community experience. Applicants can assess the fit more concretely by reviewing the curriculum and experiential requirements of their intended program.
Name of the institution
University of Missouri-Kansas CityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1929University of Missouri-Kansas City is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.