Address: 5100 Rockhill Road, 64110 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Performing Arts (Conservatory), Health Sciences, Entrepreneurship
Classes at the University of Kansas City began in October 1933, when the institution opened as a privately owned university. In 1963 it joined the University of Missouri System and took the name University of Missouri-Kansas City, usually shortened to UMKC. Its official site describes it as Kansas City’s university, and the university is a public research university.
The university works from two main sites in Kansas City, Missouri: the Volker Campus, the main campus, and the Health Sciences Campus, home of the health professions. Its schools include dentistry, pharmacy, law and medicine, alongside a College of Arts and Sciences, a conservatory of music and programmes in engineering.
The conservatory gives the university a performing-arts strand beside its health and professional schools. Because the university began as a private institution and later joined a state system, its history spans both models of higher education. Applicants should check the official pages for current degree options, costs and entry requirements.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Life Sciences, Software Engineering, Sound Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of UM System. Located in Kansas City, offering urban engagement opportunities. Strong performing arts conservatory.
Research:
A research university with strengths in health sciences, performing arts, and urban affairs. Growing focus on data science and innovation.
Famous Alumnis:
Robert Altman, Paul Rudd (also KU), Eddie Griffin, Dianne Wiest (attended briefly)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
4000
Current students***:
16000
Foreign students***:
5%
Cumulative former students***:
100000
Pros
Strong performing arts programs, urban location with professional opportunities, focus on community engagement.
Cons
Primarily a commuter campus for many, some programs less nationally prominent, urban campus safety.
Best For
Students in the Kansas City area seeking programs in performing arts, health sciences, or business, often valuing an urban university with community connections.
Wayne State University offers a point of comparison. Detroit's public urban university lists medicine, law, and urban studies with social work, a metropolitan profile akin to Kansas City's.
Compare Temple University. This public university in Philadelphia combines arts, law and business, a blend of professional and creative programmes.
Another option is University of Louisville. A public university in Louisville with medicine, business and engineering.
University of Illinois Chicago: Chicago's public campus stresses health sciences (medicine, nursing, pharmacy) and urban planning, a health-focused urban profile.
Georgia State University offers a point of comparison. Atlanta's public university lists business (Robinson College), public policy and health professions.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Compare Queen Mary University of London. In the United Kingdom, a public university in London whose recorded strengths are medicine, dentistry and law, the same professional trio found in Kansas City.
University of Dundee: In the United Kingdom, this public university lists life sciences, medicine and art and design, pairing health with creative disciplines.
York University offers a point of comparison. In Canada, a public university in Toronto with business, law and fine arts.
Compare Concordia University. In Canada, a public university in Montreal that lists fine arts, business and engineering.
Another option is Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. In France, a public university in Villeurbanne with life and health sciences, chemistry and materials science.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
How did UMKC begin?
It opened in 1933 as the University of Kansas City, a privately owned institution. It became part of the University of Missouri System in 1963 and adopted its present name.
Which campuses does the university use?
The Volker Campus is the main academic site and the Health Sciences Campus is the second. Both are in Kansas City, Missouri.
What professional schools can students find at UMKC?
The university includes schools of dentistry, pharmacy, law and medicine. It also has a College of Arts and Sciences and a conservatory that teaches music.
Is UMKC part of a larger system?
Yes, it is one of the campuses of the University of Missouri System, which it joined in 1963. Before that it had operated as a privately owned institution.
Does UMKC have a performing-arts school?
Yes, its conservatory teaches music and gives the university a performing-arts strand beside its health and professional schools.
Where can applicants see tuition and application steps?
The official UMKC website lists degree programmes, costs, financial aid and deadlines. Costs differ by school and by residency, so the official pages should be used for current figures.
Health Sciences, Innovation, Research and Development, Sustainable Practices, User-Centered Design
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
