Missouri Southern State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Joplin, Missouri. It enrolls 3,019 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes19
Value76
Affordability70
Selectivity13
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 97%, Missouri Southern State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
97%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1150 – 1420
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Missouri Southern State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Missouri Southern State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,007 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,007
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,960
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,080
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,119
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,547
Books & Supplies
$1,221
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,672
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,245
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,568
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,759
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,132
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,233
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,578
Over $110,000
$15,083
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,62510%percentile
$4,50025%percentile
$19,174Medianpercentile
$21,62075%percentile
$33,30490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,250
↓ $6,924
No Pell $10,641
↓ $8,533
Dependent students $10,750
↓ $8,424
Independent students $14,750
↓ $4,424
Female students $12,054
↓ $7,120
Male students $11,000
↓ $8,174
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($19,174), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
37% of full-time students who enrolled at Missouri Southern State University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $42,620 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,620
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,000, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Missouri Southern State University is home to 3,019 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,019
Part-Time
18%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 65.0%1,963
Hispanic 10.1%306
Black 7.0%210
Other 6.9%208
International 5.0%151
Asian 3.4%103
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Missouri Southern State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityJoplin, Missouri
Housing
Partly residential798 beds available
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Missouri Southern State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
67 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri Southern State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,567
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$49M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,574
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
139 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
35
25%
$72,833
Associate Professors
31
22%
$55,823
Assistant Professors
37
27%
$57,133
Instructors
30
22%
$49,941
Lecturers
3
2%
$64,936
No Rank
3
2%
$64,750
Pros & Cons of Missouri Southern State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Missouri Southern State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Missouri Southern State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Missouri Southern State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Missouri Southern State University.
Is Missouri Southern State University hard to get into?
Missouri Southern State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 97%.
What is the acceptance rate at Missouri Southern State University?
Missouri Southern State University has an acceptance rate of 97%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Missouri Southern State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Missouri Southern State University scored between 1150 and 1420 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Missouri Southern State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Missouri Southern State University scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Missouri Southern State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Missouri Southern State University is $12,007 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Missouri Southern State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,620 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,007 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Missouri Southern State University known for?
Missouri Southern State University is best known for its programs in Business, Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Missouri Southern State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Missouri Southern State University are $42,620, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Missouri Southern State University accredited?
Yes. Missouri Southern State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Missouri Southern State University?
Missouri Southern State University enrolls 3,019 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Missouri Southern State University?
Missouri Southern State University graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Missouri Southern State University a public or private college?
Missouri Southern State University is a Public institution.
Where is Missouri Southern State University located?
Missouri Southern State University is located in Joplin, Missouri.
What programs does Missouri Southern State University offer?
Missouri Southern State University offers 67 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri Southern State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri Southern State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Missouri
Other colleges in Missouri share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Missouri Southern State University
Missouri Southern State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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