The University of Missouri ( often shortened to MU ) is a public university in Columbia , Missouri , in the United States that was started in 1839 . The University of Missouri ( Mizzou , MU , University of Missouriâ `` Columbia or simply Missouri ) is a public research university located in the state of Missouri . In 1839 the university was founded in Columbia , Missouri , as the first public institution of higher education west of the Mississippi River .