Regional university
Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $12,007 a year
Median debt at graduation: $19,174 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.42%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.63%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,065 · ACT 20.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$9,817
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $19,568 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,930 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 40% · Women 60% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 45% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 28% |
| Total students | 4,090 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $12,007 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $19,568 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $19,174 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 42% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 36% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 35% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 49% |
| First-year retention | 63% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $42,620 |
| Admission rate | 97% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $35 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $765 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 34% |
| Average SAT | 1065 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 540–690 |
| SAT math | 610–730 |
| ACT composite | 17–24 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Very good · Top 34% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Nursing | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Other health professions and related clinical sciences | |
| Public health | |
| Political science | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Business (general) | |
| Social work | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Communication studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Sociology | |
| Biology | |
| Fine arts | |
| Teacher education | |
| Education (general) |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Biochemistry, Business administration, Chemistry, Clinical laboratory science, Design, English, Geography, Health administration, Health sciences, History, Industrial technology, International relations, Managerial economics, Mathematics, Music, Other business, management, marketing, and related support services, Physics, Public Policy Analysis, Romance languages, Theatre.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Education | |
| Liberal arts and general studies | |
| Health professions | |
| Criminal justice and security |
Campus life
| Setting | City |
|---|---|
| Part-time undergraduates | 18% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 19% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $9,119 |
| Sports | NCAA Division II · Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 15 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 4%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 53%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $15,119IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 20% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA)About 57 miles away · about 1 hour 20 minutes by car |
| Town population | 52,593Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | TulsaAbout 104 miles away · about 2 hours 5 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 35°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Joplin Regional Airport, MO, about 4 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.24 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.24 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Missouri Southern State University’s Compass Score?
- Solid (grade C+). The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Missouri Southern State University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $12,007 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Missouri Southern State University?
- Missouri Southern State University admitted 97% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Missouri Southern State University’s graduates do?
- 42% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $42,620; the median federal debt at graduation is $19,174.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 178341
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (small programs)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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