Missouri Western State University
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%; freshman retention is below 65%. a public school with 2,219 students.
About This School
Missouri Western State University is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri with approximately 2,219 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $13,251 per year. The graduation rate is 39%, and the typical graduate earns $38,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Missouri Western State University is a public university in St. Joseph, Missouri. As of 2023, it enrolled 3,815 students.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at roughly $12,600 per year after aid and a median debt of just $11,920 at graduation, the cost is genuinely manageable — but a 40% graduation rate and 59% freshman retention rate suggest many students don't finish, which is a real concern worth asking the school about directly. Median earnings of $38,200 a decade out are modest, so this works best for students with a clear, affordable path to a career-focused degree rather than those still figuring things out. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and disciplined, but dig into support resources and your specific program's outcomes before committing.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
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: 14% 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.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 91 | $74,875 | $88,910 | −$14,035 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 54 | $62,581 | $68,257 | −$5,676 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 44 | $51,174 | $55,693 | −$4,519 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 38 | $39,163 | $47,382 | −$8,219 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 38 | $52,709 | $55,378 | −$2,669 |
| Marketing | 36 | $57,015 | $69,303 | −$12,288 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 31 | $45,251 | $54,562 | −$9,311 |
| Biology, General | 29 | $53,505 | $57,214 | −$3,709 |
| Psychology, General | 27 | $46,402 | $50,706 | −$4,304 |
| Social Work | 24 | $46,187 | $51,790 | −$5,603 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 23 | $46,342 | $45,338 | +$1,004 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 17 | $47,177 | $50,468 | −$3,291 |
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 (2,219 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Missouri
State Technical College of Missouri
Linn, MO · Public
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO · Public
Crowder College
Neosho, MO · Public
East Central College
Union, MO · Public
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, MO · Public
Three Rivers College
Poplar Bluff, MO · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Missouri Western 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
How much does Missouri Western State University cost?
The average net price at Missouri Western State University is about $13,251 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 Western State University?
Missouri Western State University has a graduation rate of 39%, 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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