Equity in Missouri Higher Education

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development is committed to our vision of empowering every Missourian with the skills and education needed for success. Postsecondary education contributes not only to workforce development, but it also leads to increased economic activity, increased wages, better overall conditions in the state, and improved quality of life for our residents. We acknowledge that there are many Missourians that do not have equal access or opportunity to a higher education and all its benefits. As a result, The Equity in Missouri Higher Education Project has been a continuing effort since 2019 that attempts to highlight and address the major disparities across race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, gender, and disability status. The 2021 Strategic Plan identifies equity-minded as being one of four key principals in continued work toward increasing educational attainment and workforce participation. The plan also sets equity goals, identifying specific populations where equity gaps still exist.