Missouri Southern State University
Public four-year university in Joplin, MO that costs an average of $10,836 a year after financial aid, admits 97% of applicants and graduates 39% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$10,836
Acceptance rate
97%
Graduation rate
39%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$48,193
PublicSmall city3,019 undergraduates
Cost of Missouri Southern State University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $19,981 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,240 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $17,640 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $9,371 |
| Books and supplies | $1,292 |
| Average net price after aid | $10,836 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $10,595 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $8,454 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $8,870 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $12,395 |
| $110,001+ | $14,415 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Missouri Southern State University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 97% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,065 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 540–690 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 610–730 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 17–24 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 39% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 63% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $41,870 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $48,193 |
| Rank in Missouri (earnings) | 34th of 53 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $18,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $205 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 37% |
| Students with federal loans | 30% |
Majors and programs at Missouri Southern State University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 36 | $74,541 | $18,874 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 39 | $61,609 | $20,281 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 4 | $58,740 | $18,500 |
| Public Health | 25 | $52,382 | — |
| Business/Commerce | 344 | $48,665 | $19,250 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 36 | $44,468 | $23,380 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 49 | $44,084 | $18,128 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 83 | $42,011 | $23,660 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 165 | $40,068 | $22,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 21 | $39,863 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 29 | $38,393 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 176 | $37,357 | $24,000 |
| Biology | 86 | $35,442 | $17,700 |
| Psychology | 55 | $32,074 | $15,750 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | — | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 4 | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 4 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 7 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 27 | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | — | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 86 | — | — |
| History | 12 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 17 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 8 | — | — |
| Music | 6 | — | — |
| Physics | 1 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 2 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 13 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 14 | — | — |
| Social Work | 35 | — | $18,000 |
| Sociology | 7 | — | — |
Certificate programs (49)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 166 | $43,598 | $10,156 |
| Air Transportation | — | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 84 | — | $8,250 |
| Anthropology | 1 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 1 | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 48 | — | $13,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Programming | 12 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 12 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 10 | — | — |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 2 | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | — | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 8 | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4 | — | — |
| History | 10 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | 2 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 2 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 3 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 13 | — | — |
| Marketing | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 5 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 41 | — | — |
| Music | 11 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | 6 | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | 3 | — | — |
| Public Health | 15 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | — | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 9 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 15 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 5 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 14 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 12 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 20 | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 37 | $62,839 | $15,450 |
| Computer Programming | 40 | $61,029 | $19,811 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 50 | $55,626 | $17,041 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 72 | $42,111 | $23,660 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 14 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 43 | $63,568 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 18 | $44,462 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 16 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 5 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 2 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Missouri
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truman State University | Kirksville | $12,317 | 84% | $57,751 |
| Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph | $16,379 | — | $47,624 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville | $16,120 | 86% | $52,028 |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | Saint Louis | $14,990 | 63% | $59,899 |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla | $15,772 | 73% | $85,917 |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg | $15,554 | 64% | $52,739 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | $17,110 | 74% | $48,748 |
| Lincoln University | Jefferson City | $13,788 | — | $41,642 |
About Missouri Southern State University
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Joplin, MO |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 3,019 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 15 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | mssu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Missouri Southern State University's acceptance rate?
Missouri Southern State University admits 97% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,065 on the SAT.
How much does Missouri Southern State University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $19,981 a year (tuition and fees: $9,240 in-state, $17,640 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $10,836 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,595.
How much do Missouri Southern State University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $48,193 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 34th of 53 similar colleges in Missouri. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($74,541 a year after graduation).
What is Missouri Southern State University's graduation rate?
39% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 63% of first-year students return for a second year.