Missouri Southern State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. freshman retention is below 65%. a public school with 3,019 students.
About This School
Missouri Southern State University is a public institution located in Joplin, Missouri with approximately 3,019 undergraduate students enrolled. Missouri Southern State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 97%. The average net price after financial aid is $12,007 per year. The graduation rate is 42%, and the typical graduate earns $38,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
Missouri Southern State University is a public university in Joplin, Missouri. It was established in 1937 as Joplin Junior College. The university enrolled 4,087 students in Fall 2023.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $11,653/year average net price and only $11,650 in median debt at graduation, this school is genuinely affordable — but a 38% graduation rate means fewer than 4 in 10 students who start actually finish, which is a serious red flag worth questioning before enrolling. Median earnings of $38,100 a decade out are modest, so students should be clear-eyed about career outcomes and choose a program with strong regional demand. Worth considering if you need a low-cost option in the Joplin area and have a concrete plan to stay on track — but the retention and graduation data suggest this school works best for students who come in with real support and commitment.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Missouri Southern State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Public Health ($63,965 vs $58,808 nationally), and most below it in Computer and Information Sciences, General ($75,295 vs $92,374).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | 189 | $55,286 | $68,407 | −$13,121 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 88 | $39,419 | $47,382 | −$7,963 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 80 | $46,892 | $53,072 | −$6,180 |
| Biology, General | 46 | $40,412 | $57,214 | −$16,802 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 33 | $49,114 | $55,378 | −$6,264 |
| Psychology, General | 31 | $41,008 | $50,706 | −$9,698 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 26 | $58,701 | $54,562 | +$4,139 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 19 | $75,295 | $92,374 | −$17,079 |
| Public Health | 16 | $63,965 | $58,808 | +$5,157 |
| Social Work | 15 | $49,855 | $51,790 | −$1,935 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 15 | $40,402 | $41,367 | −$965 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 15 | $75,985 | $88,910 | −$12,925 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,019 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Missouri Southern State University
3950 E. Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
Official Links
Schools Like This in Missouri
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State Fair Community College
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Crowder College
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Jefferson College
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Missouri Western State University
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See How Colleges Compare
Missouri Southern State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Missouri Southern State University?
Missouri Southern State University has an acceptance rate of 97%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Missouri Southern State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Missouri Southern State University has an acceptance rate of 97%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Missouri Southern State University cost?
The average net price at Missouri Southern State University is about $12,007 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Missouri Southern State University?
Missouri Southern State University has a graduation rate of 42%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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