Graduate Schools in St. Louis, MO

DID YOU KNOW?

St Louis is nicknamed the ‘Mound City’ after the various Native American mounds that were constructed about 1000 years ago.ⁱⁱ

St. Louis, the Gateway City

St Louis is, of course, commonly known for its 630-foot tall Gateway Arch in downtown St Louis on the Mississippi River. It is nicknamed ‘Gateway to the West’, and the ‘Gateway City’. Expand your horizons in the city renowned for its monuments to expansion.

The tallest man-made monument in the west, the Arch was built as a symbol of the westward expansion of the United States. It was thought that its construction would both revive the riverfront and stimulate the economy.ⁱⁱⁱ

Winner of awards (such as the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award), the Arch is one of the most favored destinations in St Louis. It’s definitely worth a ride up the arch in a glass pod to take in the view from the Observation Deck.

The Livable City of St. Louis

For those who like city life but hate huge crowds, St Louis might be a very “livable” city.

Where to live in St. Louis? Well, the city has about 79 different neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive style and features, and many are historic and quite walkable. You could find an energetic mix of parks, farmers markets, restaurants, music clubs, and locally owned shops

Here is a short list of some of the neighborhoods in STL. Consider your needs, where your university is located, then compare affordability, crime stats and other quality of life issues that are important to you. FWIW, reports indicate that the high-crime areas of St. Louis are primarily in the lower-income neighborhoods located in North City and North County.^iv

Also, universities in St. Louis may provide insight into where students might seek housing through a campus resource. Speaking with an advisor from the graduate schools on your list might prove to be helpful in your search for a new home.

Meanwhile, let’s take a minute to get acquainted with some major St. Louis neighborhoods.

7 St. Louis Neighborhoods

• The Hill – Located on high ground south of Forest Park. At almost 1,400 acres Forest Park is one of the nation’s largest urban parks. The park is a draw for joggers, cyclists and visitors to the zoo, museums, golf, tennis and restaurants. The Hill is a prominently Italian neighborhood.
• Clayton – Located near the western border of St Louis, just south of Forest Park. Also called Dogtown, Clayton is an actively Irish part of the city. Besides being lively on St. Patrick’s Day, it is also a thriving business district.
• The Delmar Loop – Historic residential neighborhood with tree-lined streets near lively Delmar Boulevard. The Loop offers six blocks of fantastic one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, art galleries, live music, café culture, and the St. Louis Walk of Fame. The Loop got its name over a century ago from streetcars that came west and “looped around” before they connected to other areas.
• University Park / University City – A charming residential enclave with arts, music and restaurants, walkable to the Loop. One of the older suburbs in STL.
• Downtown – The central business district, and a hub of tourism and entertainment.
• Skinker DeBaliviere – Directly north of Forest Park and designated a Local Historic District. The area is home to the Pageant Concert Nightclub, which is a popular concert venue, and the Pin-Up Bowl, a bowling alley with a retro bar and lounge.
• High Point/DeMun – Located within Dogtown, Hi-Pointe takes its name from being one of the highest points in the City of St. Louis. Here you could find detached homes, apartment buildings, condominiums, and businesses such as the HQ of the famous St. Louis Bread Company (which you may know as Panera).

Public transportation includes bus, taxis and light rail. The St. Louis metro area is served by Metrolink (known as Metro) and is one of the largest light rail systems in the country.^v

The Red Line and The Blue Line both serve all the stations in the inner city, and branch to different places beyond in the suburban areas. Both lines enter the city north of Forest Park on the western edge of the city or follow the Eads Bridge in downtown St. Louis to Illinois.

What’s the Weather Like in St. Louis, MO?

Pack for all four seasons as you head to grad school in St Louis. It could be hot and humid in July and August, while winter could see temperatures anywhere from the 20s to the 40s. Things are somewhat chilly toward Thanksgiving with mornings around high 30s and afternoons, possible high 50s.

The region is also prone to extreme weather, such as tornadoes, flooding and lightning storms—so prepare for weather diversity.

Which Famous People Are from St. Louis?

Home to Chuck Berry, a pioneer of rock n’ roll, St Louis is also proud of its pop stars such as Nelly and Tina Turner; the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra; T.S. Elliot and more. Kevin Kline and John Goodman and Maya Angelou, Yogi Berra are some of the talent from the city.

Experience the Culture of St. Louis

This varied list gives just a bit of insight into the culture and vibe of St Louis. The city is well-defined by music – jazz, ragtime, blues as well as by sports, especially baseball.

Baseball is unavoidable, and the STL fans are intensely devoted. Summer is defined by sipping a beer at the Busch Stadium to cheer on the Cardinals. There’s also hockey (The Blues).

Many of the parks have free concerts or movies. Check out LOUFEST, Balloon Glow in Forest Park, and head to Blueberry Hill in The Loop—It’s the place where Chuck Berry duck-walked countless times.

Admission to many of St. Louis’ arts and cultural institutions is free, including the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Science Center.

Landmarks and St. Louis Architecture

To learn at one of the graduate schools in St Louis is to live in a city of landmarks and great architecture too.

Gaze at pre-Civil War skyscrapers, French style houses in Lafayette Square, and the neo-Byzantine Christ Church Cathedral. Homes range in style from three-story Victorians to wood-framed farmhouses to traditional ranchers and two-story colonials.

Some of the city’s National Historic Landmarks include Eads Bridge, Anheuser-Busch Brewery House, and the Missouri Botanical Garden – the oldest functioning botanical garden in the county.

What Kind of Food Is St. Louis Known For?

The food scene is pretty special in St Louis. With an ethnically diverse population, city and regional cuisine will keep your taste buds happy.

Try some toasted ravioli (known as “fried ravioli” in other parts of the U.S.) or some of the local butter cake, which graces many a table in St Louis at Thanksgiving. The city’s famous “St. Louis-style” pizza has thin, crisp crust and is doused with provel cheese, which is a specially blended mixture of Swiss, cheddar and provolone that is native to the city.

Another local specialty is the Gerber sandwich. A Gerber is an open-faced sandwich made with Italian or French bread that is slathered with garlic butter and topped with ham, Provolone or provel, plus a sprinkle of paprika—then the whole concoction is lightly toasted.

Then there’s the STL late night culinary original, the ‘St. Louis Slinger’. This local delicacy is a mishmash of meat, hash-fried potatoes, eggs, and chili, accompanied by a side of ham, sausage, bacon, hamburger patties, or even a T-bone steak.

Compare Graduate Schools in St. Louis

There are many universities to choose from in and near St. Louis, Missouri. Check out some of our partner schools below.

• Maryville University is located about 22 miles from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
• Kaplan University campus in St. Louis is located near Westport Plaza.

The city is also home to two national research universities, Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University, as classified under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.^vi

Criminal Justice Masters Programs in St. Louis

If you are compelled to study law, social justice, or criminal justice, St. Louis’s past and current tensions could provide some interesting case studies. St Louis is a strongly segregated city, and has seen its share of crisis (perhaps most notable are the 2015 race riots in Ferguson).

Yet, per the Pew Charitable Trust report, St Louis takes fourth place on the list of cities that are “seeing some or the nation’s fastest growth in college graduates.” Despite a 30,770 drop in overall population, St Louis has experienced a14,457 increase of young college graduates.^vii

Why not join the millennial love for St Louis with an online Master of Science (MS) in Criminal Justice at partner school, Kaplan? Kaplan’s MS in Criminal Justice could enable students to learn how to analyze the causes of criminal behavior and social deviance.

Learners might also study recent legislation and case law at the state and federal levels. This could delve into areas such as law enforcement, criminal procedure, civil and criminal liability, civil rights, employment law, and substance abuse.

St. Louis, as home to Boeing’s defense unit could also provide a dynamic environment to pursue an online MS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management at Kaplan.

Classes might discuss how societal institutions, government agencies, lawmakers, and others find sustainable security and emergency management solutions on a local, regional, national, and global level. Curriculums might also bring key leadership and managerial topics into the discussion.

MHA Programs in St. Louis

A center of medicine and biotechnology, St Louis is home to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the St Louis Children’s hospital. Several different organizations also operate hospitals in the area, including BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM Health Care, and Tenet.

Students might therefore choose one of the Graduate Schools in St Louis in which to earn a Master of Health Administration. Maryville University, a partner school offers an online MHA degree program. Students could choose a general MHA, or add one of 4 emphases, including: (1) Healthcare Strategies, (2) Data Management, (3) Population Management, (4) Senior Services.

For the business-minded, another option is to pursue degrees such as a Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Finance or MBA.

Kaplan, a partner school, offers several options. Students in Kaplan’s MBA program could add a concentration to their degree plan such as finance, health care management, human resources, information technology, marketing, or project management. There is also an ExcelTrack MBA geared toward students with related skills, professional experience, and self-direction who want to quicken their pace toward earning their degree.

Graduate Nursing Programs in St. Louis

Whether it is a BSN to DNP, an MSN or DNP degree you seek, you’ll find a variety of nursing graduate programs in St Louis. Not sure which one to choose? Both partner schools offer programs for your consideration. Some may prepare students to sit for national licensure exams, though it is wise to check with state boards if this is your goal.

Ready for a Master of Science in Nursing? Kaplan’s MS in Nursing is designed to build on the BSN degree and RN licensure. Students could select from five concentrations and population focus areas. These are: (1) Nurse Educator, (2) Nurse Executive Leader, (3) Nurse Informatics, (4) FNP-family nurse practitioner, primary care, or (5) NP – Adult-gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner.

Maryville also offers an array of MSN programs that includes a MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree program and others like pediatric primary care and adult gerontology for instance.

Do you hope to lead at the highest clinical levels? A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program typically prepares advanced practice nurses for complex practice. Maryville University, a partner school offers a DNP program. Students could enter it post BSN or post MSN.

Curriculums meld evidence-based practice and research to improve clinical care delivery, patient outcomes, system management, and organizational leadership as well as to inform health care policy.

Pick a Graduate School in St. Louis, Missouri

Easily compare and contact graduate schools in St Louis. Scroll this page, or set filters like degree level (Masters, Doctorate, Certificate) and subject (e.g. Education) to pull up let’s say Doctor of Education (EdD) programs in St Louis. Then you can use the on-page form to get started right away.

[i] web.archive.org/web/20080419060630/http://ded.mo.gov/cgi-bin/dispress.pl?txtpressid=1817 | [ii] slpl.org/slpl/interests/article240099632.asp | [iii] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_Arch | [iv] realestate.usnews.com/places/missouri/st-louis/crime | [v] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis#Transportation | [vi] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_University| [vii] pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2016/07/25/millennials-bring-new-life-to-some-rust-belt-cities