Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University, located in Maryville, Missouri, is a public university with an enrollment of over 9,000 students. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, the university was established as part of a state effort to create normal schools across five districts in Missouri. Maryville was selected for the Northwest district due to a donation of 86 acres and $58,000, with classes beginning in 1906. Initially named the Fifth District Normal School, its primary mission was to train elementary school teachers, operating a lab school for local children. The institution evolved over the years, becoming Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College in 1919 with the ability to grant bachelor’s degrees, and later renamed Northwest Missouri State College in 1949. During World War II, the university participated in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, offering students a pathway to a Navy commission. In 1972, it achieved university status, allowing it to offer master’s degrees, and adopted the current name, Northwest Missouri State University. The campus is based on the Forest Park design from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, which later influenced the layout of Washington University in St. Louis. The Missouri State Arboretum, officially designated in 1993, is located on campus, enhancing the university’s aesthetic and ecological appeal. The university is governed by a state-appointed Board of Regents and led by President Lance Tatum, with the President’s residence at the historic Thomas Gaunt House. Northwest Missouri State University is home to the Northwest Bearcats, competing in NCAA Division II and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Over the years, the university faced challenges, including a proposed closure in 1988, which was ultimately withdrawn. The campus also launched the Electronic Campus Program in 1987, pioneering online education among public colleges in the United States. The university continues to serve as a regional educational and cultural hub, combining its historic roots in teacher education with modern academic programs and research initiatives, contributing to the community of Maryville and the broader Missouri region.