Missouri Southern State University
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Why Missouri Southern State University Matters
Missouri Southern State University is a public university in Joplin, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,019
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose Missouri Southern State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 97% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1150–1420. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,007 a year after grants and scholarships — 30% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,620 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $19,174 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 38% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.49 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 97%, Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO, is an accessible choice for many students. It's a good fit for those who may be looking to study areas like Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, or Humanities. The school has a welcoming environment where students can find their footing academically and socially.
After graduation, students see an average earning of $42,620 within ten years. That’s a solid starting point for many, especially considering the affordability of attending Missouri Southern. The net price after aid is around $12,007, making it a manageable option for those mindful of their financial futures. While the graduation rate is 40%, there are still pathways for upward mobility, especially for those who engage with available resources.
On the financial side, students graduate with a median debt of $19,174, which is relatively low compared to many institutions. This means that graduates can enter the workforce with less financial burden, allowing for a smoother transition into their careers. Those who thrive here often appreciate a community-oriented atmosphere and hands-on learning opportunities, especially in the applied programs.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Missouri Southern State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Missouri Southern State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Joplin, Missouri, Missouri Southern State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 97% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,065. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 40%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Missouri Southern State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Missouri Southern State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,080 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,007 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,759 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,174.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Missouri Southern State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Missouri Southern State University report median earnings of $42,620; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Missouri Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Missouri Southern State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Missouri Southern State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,007/year ($48,028 total). Graduates earn $42,620 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $977,314 in total earnings — a net gain of $929,286 (20.3× your investment). The median debt is $19,174, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Missouri Southern State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Missouri Southern State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.72%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 11.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Missouri Southern State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Missouri Southern State University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Missouri Southern State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Joplin, Missouri, Missouri Southern State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 97% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,065. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Missouri Southern State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Missouri Southern State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,080 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,007 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,759 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,174.
Is Missouri Southern State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Missouri Southern State University report median earnings of $42,620; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Missouri Southern State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Missouri Southern State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.72%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 11.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Missouri Southern State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Missouri Southern State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.49 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Missouri Southern State University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Missouri Southern State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Missouri Southern State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.49 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note