Stephens College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbia, Missouri. It enrolls 391 students (a very small, intimate 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.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes32
Value14
Affordability56
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.2%, Stephens College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Stephens College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
35.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Stephens College 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 $23,459 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,459
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
62%
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
$28,300
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,366
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,251
Books & Supplies
$1,240
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,784
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,873
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,643
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
$9,918
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,796
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,547
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,644
Over $110,000
$29,787
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,78725%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,00090%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 $23,250
↓ $3,750
No Pell $14,236
↓ $12,764
Dependent students $18,927
↓ $8,073
Independent students $25,248
↓ $1,752
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,483, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at Stephens College graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
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 Stephens College earn a median of $43,071 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,071
Earning > $25K
69%
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 Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$36,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
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 ↑
20.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Stephens College is home to 391 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
391
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.4%193
Black 8.4%33
Other 6.9%27
Asian 1.5%6
Hispanic 1.0%4
International 0.5%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Stephens College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityColumbia, Missouri
Housing
Strongly residential327 beds for 391 students
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Women's college
What You Can Study
Stephens College offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
11 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 Stephens College is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$84M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,542
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
43 instructional faculty across 3 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
2
5%
$63,287
Associate Professors
15
35%
$76,944
Assistant Professors
26
60%
$59,137
Pros & Cons of Stephens College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Stephens College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Stephens College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stephens College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Stephens College.
Is Stephens College hard to get into?
Stephens College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Stephens College?
Stephens College has an acceptance rate of 77.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Stephens College cost?
The average net price after aid at Stephens College is $23,459 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Stephens College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,071 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,459 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Stephens College known for?
Stephens College is best known for its programs in Allied Health Diagnostic, Drama & Theatre, Drama & Theatre. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Stephens College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Stephens College are $43,071, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Stephens College accredited?
Yes. Stephens College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Stephens College?
Stephens College enrolls 391 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Stephens College?
Stephens College graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Stephens College a public or private college?
Stephens College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Stephens College located?
Stephens College is located in Columbia, Missouri.
What programs does Stephens College offer?
Stephens College offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Allied Health Diagnostic, Drama & Theatre, Drama & Theatre.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Stephens College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Stephens College is 7:1, 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.
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