Three Rivers College
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,442 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $8,496 B+
- 50% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,844
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 21.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri.
Every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $686,319.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Three Rivers College Matters
Three Rivers College is a public community college in Poplar Bluff, 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,844
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education
Why students choose Three Rivers 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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,496 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,442 ten years after enrolling — 20% 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 1.25 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,844 students, Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, MO, caters to those seeking a community-oriented learning environment. Students here often dive into programs such as Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, and Computer Science & IT. This diverse range of fields allows students to explore their interests while preparing for various career paths.
Looking at life after graduation, graduates from Three Rivers College can expect to earn about $32,442 within a decade of completing their studies. This figure highlights the potential for a stable financial footing, particularly for those who might be starting from the bottom 20% of income earners. Affordability plays a key role, with nearly half of the students relying on Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden of their education.
When considering the cost, the net price after aid sits at approximately $8,496, and the median debt for graduates is around $10,000. This manageable debt load suggests that students can focus on building their careers without being weighed down by financial stress. Those who tend to thrive at Three Rivers are often those drawn to a supportive community and practical programs that lead to solid job opportunities.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Three Rivers College, located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,003
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 56%
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 Three Rivers College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Three Rivers College is $6,180, 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 $8,496. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,236 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,950
- Out-of-State
- $6,180
- Avg Net Price
- $8,496
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 49%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,236
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,570
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,980
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Three Rivers College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Three Rivers College report median earnings of $32,442, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,566
- 8 Years
- $30,781
- 10 Years
- $32,442
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (109)
- 19%
- 100% (109)
- 19%
- 100% (109)
- 19%
- 100% (109)
- 19%
How Three 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 Three Rivers College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Three Rivers College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,496/year ($33,984 total). Graduates earn $32,442 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $720,303 in total earnings — a net gain of $686,319 (21.2× your investment). The median debt is $10,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $33,984
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $720,303
- Net Return
- $686,319
- ROI Multiple
- 21.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,496
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $97,169
Top Programs
The fields Three Rivers College 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.
- Humanities 45%
- Health Professions 31%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Education 6%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Criminal Justice 1%
- Precision Production 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Three Rivers 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
- 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Three Rivers College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Three Rivers College, located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Three Rivers College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Three Rivers College is $6,180, 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 $8,496. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,236 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
Is Three Rivers College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Three Rivers College report median earnings of $32,442, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.25, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Three Rivers College.
- Hawaii Community CollegeHilo, HI · Close peer32% grad $34,891 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast Mississippi Community CollegeBooneville, MS · Close peer35% grad $34,081 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, CA · Close peer31% grad $33,281 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Allegany College of MarylandCumberland, MD · Close peer42% grad $38,476 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- East Central Community CollegeDecatur, MS · Close peer38% grad $32,421 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Meridian Community CollegeMeridian, MS · Close peer39% grad $31,002 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.25, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note