Where to go to flight school in Missouri?

The type rating is required in aircraft that need additional training. It is a safety of flight issue not a for hire issue.

Usually, once you have a private pilot certificate you would go for an instructor rating and work as a flight instructor to build flight time (while making money). Along the way you could also be working on your commercial, multi engine, and air transport pilot ratings and certificates. It takes time to get into the airlines, mostly because you need to build flight time and experience. Even when you first break into the airlines the pay is kind of pathetic, but it builds quickly over time.

Not likely. Flight schools get paid for teaching people how to fly. If they paid you for learning how to fly, they would go out of business. If you worked for them you could gain flight hours teaching others to fly, but you need hundreds of hours before you can become a flight instructor.

Its a business deal. You could contract for a fixed minimum period of time.

Go visit a flight school near you and talk to an instructor. Find out about getting a sport pilot certificate first because it's the cheapest way to start flying. If you have any kind of feeling that you and the instructor won't get along very well then go find a different instructor. You need one who will make it fun to learn to fly, even with all the stress involved with learning new things.

Many colleges offer flight training. Two that come to mind are UND and University of Cincinnati but there are many others. You might look into that as most airlines want a degree also. Regional airlines pay is garbage but you get raises pretty quickly as your time builds.

Becoming a commercial pilot does not *require* a college degree. And many folks are out there crop dusting, performing aerial photography, even teaching flying - all without a higher degree (and some probably without a high school diploma). However, it is NOT the path I would recommend. The higher up the ranks you climb, the more likely any particular institution (whether airline or other) is to want one - even if it really is not directly related to your flying work. With lots of entry level applications, it is just an easy way to weed out the bottom tiers. This is especially true of the airlines.
Also, do not forget that every commercial pilot flies at the risk of their Class II or Class I (the latter required for ATP "airline" flying) medical. I highly recommend that all pilots have a "backup" life plan for the day when they are no longer able to fly commercially.
There are two traditional routes to flying - military and civilian. The military will pay for you to learn to fly, and it is an excellent opportunity and career. But, you have to be accepted by them - and that means good physical and mental condition. And they are most likely going to want to see that you are on at least a path towards a college degree (ROTC, for example). Of course, they are also going to want a long-term commitment from you as well.
Civilian is usually "pay your own way" - at least for the beginning. You can get a pilot's license by working the drive-thru window at McDonalds (to pay for flight school), but it's a tough way to do it. And merely having a license is not enough - you need lots of hours (preferably in jets) to get hired by the major airlines. So that's a lot of time at low wages and strange times - or pay for more of your own training.
Lastly, some airlines do offer ab initio training (training from the beginning), but that is usually foreign (non-US) airlines offering jobs for their own countrymen. Lots of applicants, for a relatively few slots.
Bottom line: Flying is a wonderful career, but like anything else worthwhile - it takes lots of time and effort. If it is something you want to pursue, then don't be afraid of working long hours at perhaps multiple jobs to earn enough money to start getting your license. And then more hours and strange times at relatively low wages to make it into the airlines.

The license or "certificate" does not expire, however you must have a flight review every 24 calendar months with an instructor in order to continue to fly. The flight review consists of at least 1 hour of ground school and 1 hour of dual flight with the instructor to ensure you haven't developed any bad habits.