Missouri State University-West Plains
- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,922 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,750 B
- 43% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 965
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 23.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $878,739.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Missouri State University-West Plains Matters
Missouri State University-West Plains is a public community college in West Plains, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 965
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Education
Why students choose Missouri State University-West Plains
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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,750 a year after grants and scholarships — 43% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,922 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $10,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.12 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 965 students, Missouri State University-West Plains is an ideal choice for individuals looking for a focused educational environment. This school is particularly suited for those interested in fields like Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, and Humanities. What stands out here is the close-knit community that fosters personal connections, making it easier for students to engage with faculty and peers alike.
Looking at life after graduation, students from Missouri State University-West Plains can expect to earn around $36,922 within ten years of completing their degrees. This figure suggests a solid return on their investment in education, especially when considering the affordability of the programs. With an average net price of $9,750, the financial barriers are relatively low, which is a significant advantage for many students navigating their future careers.
When it comes to the practical aspects of attending, the median debt for graduates is about $10,000, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a supportive environment and are motivated to pursue careers in high-demand fields. With a 29% Pell Grant rate, it’s clear that this school serves a diverse student body, making higher education accessible for a range of economic backgrounds.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Missouri State University-West Plains 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 State University-West Plains? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in West Plains, Missouri, Missouri State University-West Plains enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 62%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,425
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.28
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
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 State University-West Plains? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Missouri State University-West Plains is $8,106, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,750. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,115 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,936
- Out-of-State
- $8,106
- Avg Net Price
- $9,750
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,115
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,729
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,540
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,298
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Missouri State University-West Plains — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Missouri State University-West Plains Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Missouri State University-West Plains report median earnings of $36,922, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,926
- 8 Years
- $33,978
- 10 Years
- $36,922
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (84)
- 23%
- 100% (84)
- 23%
- 100% (84)
- 23%
- 100% (84)
- 23%
How Missouri Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Missouri State University-West Plains Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Missouri State University-West Plains delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,750/year ($39,000 total). Graduates earn $36,922 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $917,739 in total earnings — a net gain of $878,739 (23.5× your investment). The median debt is $10,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $39,000
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $917,739
- Net Return
- $878,739
- ROI Multiple
- 23.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,750
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Missouri State University-West Plains awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 35% $50,183 early-career
- Humanities 29%
- Business & Marketing 11%
- Education 7%
- Social Sciences 1%
- Computer Science & IT 1%
- Culinary & Personal Services 1%
- Criminal Justice 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Missouri State University-West Plains's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Missouri State University-West Plains? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in West Plains, Missouri, Missouri State University-West Plains enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Missouri State University-West Plains? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Missouri State University-West Plains is $8,106, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,750. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,115 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
Is Missouri State University-West Plains Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Missouri State University-West Plains report median earnings of $36,922, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Missouri State University-West Plains? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Missouri State University-West Plains. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually 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 State University-West Plains.
- North Central Michigan CollegePetoskey, MI · Close peer27% grad $36,594 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Salem Community CollegeCarneys Point, NJ · Close peer39% grad $38,020 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · Close peer40% grad $35,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern Oklahoma State CollegeWilburton, OK · Close peer29% grad $38,658 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia, NC · Close peer43% grad $36,668 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Allen County Community CollegeIola, KS · Close peer38% grad $40,059 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Missouri State University-West Plains? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Missouri State University-West Plains. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.07), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note