Stephens College
#3 Smallest Colleges in America- Graduation Rate
- 45% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,071 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $23,459 D+
- 37% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.1 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Smallest Colleges in America.
Every $1 spent returns $11.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $947,978.
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 45% — 22% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Stephens College Matters
Stephens College is a private university in Columbia, 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
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 391
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose Stephens College
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
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,459 a year after grants and scholarships — 37% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,071 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 91% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.71 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Stephens College, with an enrollment of 391 students, is a great fit for those seeking a more personalized college experience. It stands out for its focus on Visual & Performing Arts, Health Professions, Education, Biology & Biomedical, and Business & Marketing. If you’re passionate about these areas, you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters creativity and growth.
After graduation, students typically earn around $43,071 within ten years. This figure gives you a sense of the financial landscape post-college. With a graduation rate of 45%, it’s clear that while some students find their footing quickly, others may take a little longer to reach the finish line. The affordability factor is also significant, with nearly half of students receiving Pell Grants, which helps ease the financial burden.
When we look at the numbers, the average net price after aid is $23,459, with a median debt of $27,000. This means that while there is some debt to consider, the cost is somewhat manageable, especially for those who thrive in smaller class settings and value a close-knit community. Students who succeed here tend to be those who are self-motivated and engaged, ready to take advantage of the unique offerings at Stephens College.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Stephens College 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 Stephens College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Columbia, Missouri, Stephens College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,780
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.74
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 650
- Admitted
- 417
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 Stephens College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Stephens College is $28,300, 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 $23,459. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,918 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $28,300
- Out-of-State
- $28,300
- Avg Net Price
- $23,459
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 45%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 62%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,918
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,796
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,547
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,787
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 Stephens College — 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 Stephens College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Stephens College report median earnings of $43,071, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,778
- 8 Years
- $41,996
- 10 Years
- $43,071
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.63x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (28)
- 15%
- 100% (28)
- 15%
- 100% (28)
- 15%
- 100% (28)
- 15%
How Stephens 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 Stephens College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Stephens College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,459/year ($93,836 total). Graduates earn $43,071 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,041,814 in total earnings — a net gain of $947,978 (11.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $93,836
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,041,814
- Net Return
- $947,978
- ROI Multiple
- 11.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,459
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
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 Stephens College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Stephens College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.72%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.72%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $128,392
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,901,508
- Investment Income
- $1,924,662
Top Programs
The fields Stephens College 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.
- Visual & Performing Arts 33%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Health Professions 12%
- Education 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- English & Literature 5%
- Psychology 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Stephens College'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Stephens College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Columbia, Missouri, Stephens College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 21. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Stephens College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Stephens College is $28,300, 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 $23,459. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,918 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Stephens College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Stephens College report median earnings of $43,071, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Stephens College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Stephens College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.72%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Stephens College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Stephens College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Stephens College.
- Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityHannibal, MO · Close peer47% grad $42,643 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Albizu University-MiamiMiami, FL · Close peer48% grad $41,544 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Salem CollegeWinston-Salem, NC · Close peer57% grad $44,640 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Maine College of Art & DesignPortland, ME · Close peer50% grad $40,778 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Life Pacific UniversitySan Dimas, CA · Close peer48% grad $43,299 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Blue Mountain Christian UniversityBlue Mountain, MS · Close peer53% grad $40,421 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Stephens College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Stephens College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note