University of Missouri, Kansas City

What University of Missouri, Kansas City does

University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC) is a public research university founded in 1933 and operating as part of the University of Missouri System under the governance of the Board of Curators of the State of Missouri. The institution serves approximately 14,904 students from all 50 U.S. states and 82 countries across more than 125 academic areas in 10 schools and colleges, including the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, the UMKC Conservatory, and schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, and Science and Engineering. UMKC achieved Carnegie R1 designation in 2025, placing it among the top 6% of U.S. universities for research intensity, and is Kansas City's only R1 institution. Research expenditures reached $79M in FY25, up 39% year-over-year, with focus areas spanning electromagnetics, advanced materials, AI/cybersecurity, digital humanities, and health sciences.

The university's core product is its academic portfolio, delivered through on-campus programs at the Volker Campus and Health Sciences Campus in Kansas City, supplemented by online degree offerings and an array of pathway partnerships (RooMentum 2+2 transfers, Early College Academy, Amazon Career Choice, Professional Roo). Ancillary revenue and mission-supporting activities include university-operated dental, pharmacy, medical, and nursing clinics; a Division I athletics program (KC Roos); and the largest fundraising campaign in its history, Blue & Bold, which targets $700M. The university distributes $200M+ in financial aid annually, and 96% of first-time students qualify for assistance.

The business model is a hybrid of tuition and fees, state appropriations, competitive federal and private research grants, philanthropic giving, and clinical services. Customer segments span first-time undergraduates, transfer and adult learners, graduate and professional students, international students, and employer-sponsored working adults, sourced through direct admissions, regional counselors, community-college partnerships, K-12 dual-enrollment programs, and employer alliances. Notable strategic partnerships include the Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, KC Current, Children's Mercy, Saint Luke's, Abbott, the EPA, and the NSF, alongside recent geographic expansion of the Physician Assistant Program to Columbia and rural healthcare training in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Name

University of Missouri, Kansas City

Legal name

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Website

https://umkc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The University of Missouri, Kansas City is a Carnegie R1 public research university in Kansas City serving approximately 14,904 students across more than 125 academic programs and 10 schools, with research expenditures of $79M in FY25.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAHAB

MBA & Executive MBA Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDAEALAO

Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Outsourced Operations & Managed Services for Education (BPO/Contracted Support)

SECONDARYEDAHALAF

Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Distance & Online Universities

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Research university programs
• Professional degree programs
• Health sciences education
• Graduate academic programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs for in-state and out-of-state students
2. Research Grants and Awards: Federal, state, and private research funding including NIH, NSF grants and industry partnerships. FY25 saw $57M in research awards (45% YoY increase) and $79M in total research expenditures.
3. Philanthropic Giving: The Blue & Bold campaign aims to raise $700M. FY24 philanthropic impact was $95.5M. Includes gifts, bequests, and endowment distributions supporting scholarships, research, and facilities.
4. Healthcare Services: Revenue from university-operated dental, pharmacy, medical, and nursing clinics providing healthcare services to the community while training students

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UMKC delivers higher education and research services, offering more than 125 academic areas across 10 schools and colleges spanning undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs (including MD, PharmD, DDS, JD, MBA). It also operates an R1 Carnegie-classified research enterprise with FY25 expenditures of $79M, runs university-operated dental, pharmacy, medical and nursing clinics, and fields a Division I athletics program (KC Roos).

Product overview

UMKC is a public urban research university offering more than 125 academic programs across 10 schools and colleges. The institution operates a platform-based model with its core academic offerings (undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs) supported by specialized schools including the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, UMKC Conservatory, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Law, and School of Science and Engineering. The university also provides student support services, operates a Division I athletics program (KC Roos), and conducts research as a Carnegie R1 institution. Major capital projects include the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building, Atterbury Student Success Center, and Conservatory expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Academic Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of graduates employed or planning advanced degree within 6 months of bachelor's degree (2022-23 NACE survey)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Children's MercyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026UMKC and Children's Mercy launched a streamlined research agreement removing barriers to collaboration and giving Ph.D. students faster access to hands-on research opportunities with leading pediatric investigators. This agreement facilitates interdisciplinary research and healthcare innovation.
• University of Nebraska OmahaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026Collegiate partnership where GolfTRK, a technology-driven indoor golf training franchise, established partnerships with University of Nebraska Omaha and UMKC for collegiate golf programs.
• Abbott (Virus Hunters)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Abbott's Virus Hunters collaboration with researchers from Johns Hopkins University, UMKC, NIAID, and Université Protestante au Congo identified a group of rare HIV elite controllers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. UMKC researchers contributed to this landmark study published in EBioMedicine.
• Saint Luke'scoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2024UMKC and Saint Luke's leading a nationwide study on pregnant people with heart disease to combat maternal deaths and illnesses. $8.3 million grant is the largest NIH award in university history.
• Kansas City RoyalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2024Hometown team partnership provides real-world experiences for Roos and helps reach high school students through STEM initiatives. Includes hands-on learning opportunities for students, alumni and campus engagement.
• Kansas City CurrentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023Groundbreaking higher education partnership where KC Current players receive mentorship from UMKC scholar-athletes while active players are eligible for enrollment in UMKC degree programs. Reciprocal partnership creates mentorship and educational pathways.
• Kansas City ChiefsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2023Five-year partnership centers on student recruitment, scholarships and success programs. Students gain insights from Chiefs staff through scholarships, job shadowing, internships, fellowships, leadership events and stadium tours exclusive to UMKC students. Chiefs Kingdom Spirit Scholarship provides unique scholarships and behind-the-scenes opportunities.
• Sporting Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2023Partnership allows UMKC to strategically market the university and build meaningful relationships that align with university mission. Includes KC Roos soccer partnerships and collaborative marketing activities.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023Partnership includes joint research projects, opportunities for EPA colleagues to participate in teaching and mentoring, and internship opportunities for UMKC students.
• Amazon Career ChoicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Career Choice offers two ways to advance careers: funds toward an undergraduate degree from UMKC and free beginner- and intermediate English-language skills courses for speakers of other languages.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas CitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEligible graduating members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City can receive a renewable UMKC scholarship of $1,000 for up to five years.
• City YearcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity Year AmeriCorps members and alumni who have completed at least one year of service and staff members employed by City Year for at least two years who have been admitted to a degree program at UMKC will be considered for a scholarship that reduces tuition and fees by 50%.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kansas State University: Public research university in Kansas competing for Kansas City metro students, particularly in engineering, business, and health sciences. Comparable scale and regional role.
• Wichita State University: Public research university in Kansas with comparable enrollment scale (~15K-20K students) and urban-serving mission. Competes in engineering, business, and health professions.
• University of Nebraska Omaha: Public metropolitan university comparable in size and urban-serving mission. Recently partnered with UMKC on GolfTRK collegiate initiative. Comparable student demographics and Carnegie classification trajectory.
• University of Kansas (KU): Public R1 research university in neighboring Kansas with comparable graduate programs, research profile, and Big 12 Conference membership. Directly competes for Kansas City metro students and faculty.
• Missouri State University: Public Missouri university of comparable enrollment scale serving similar student demographics. Competes for Missouri residents and transfer students, particularly through pathway partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou): Larger sibling institution within the UM System and Missouri's flagship public research university. Directly comparable as a public R1 in Missouri, though significantly larger in enrollment, research expenditure, and brand.
• University of Oklahoma: Public R1 research university in the broader regional cluster. Comparable graduate program rankings and research expenditure scale; competes for research talent and out-of-state students in the Midwest.
• University of Iowa: Public R1 research university with strong health sciences portfolio and similar Carnegie classification. Comparable research expenditure scale and graduate program rankings in health fields.

Regional players

• Saint Louis University: Private R2 research university in Missouri with comparable health sciences schools (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry). Competes for health professions students and research funding in the region.
• University of Arkansas: Public R1 research university comparable in size and Carnegie R1 designation era. Similar trajectory of research expansion and regional economic development mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/umkansascity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UMKC
• Facebookfacebook.com/325868702683
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umkc
• Instagraminstagram.com/umkcinkansascity
• TikToktiktok.com/@umkc_roos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Missouri, Kansas City