I went to Mizzou for doctoral study. It’s a fine school. I’m also an LAC grad, so if you’re asking me for a straight-up decision, without money being taken into consideration, I’m definitely biased: I would send my child to Rhodes in a heartbeat.
But money is a consideration, and if based on the OP’s previous comment (which another poster thankfully shared) Rhodes will cost 30K per year plus room and board (which sounds pretty much like footing the bill for nearly the entire cost of attendance), that’s a lot of money. If Mizzou will only cost room and board then the decision is easy. Go to Mizzou.
As much of a supporter as I am of LACs, I cannot justify getting into serious debt to attend an LAC. Now, if your family can comfortably afford the cost of Rhodes, that’s a different story. But on the surface of things Mizzou is the better choice.
Mizzou is a fine school. Yes, it has had its much-publicized issues with race, but as the flagship it attracts the state’s brightest students who are either not interested in, or cannot afford, a private school or another OOS public option. I do think that LACs are better choices for those who plan on going on to medical school, law school, or graduate school because the environments are more supportive, but as an earlier poster mentioned, pre-med is difficult no matter where one goes. I said this elsewhere, but the ground is littered with the bones of once hopeful pre-med students.