Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO · Public · offers Graduate degrees
97%Acceptance rate
$12,007Average net price / year
42%Graduation rate
$42,620Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$19,174Median debt at graduation
3,019Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $8,960
- Out-of-state tuition
- $17,080
- Total cost of attendance
- $19,568
- Room & board
- $9,119
- Books & supplies
- $1,221
- Average net price
- $12,007
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $9,759
- $30–48k
- $10,132
- $48–75k
- $11,233
- $75–110k
- $14,578
- $110k+
- $15,083
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 97.0%
- Average SAT
- 1065
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 540–690
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 610–730
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 17–24
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 42%
- First-year retention
- 63%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $37,866
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $42,620
- Median debt (graduates)
- $19,174
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 34%
- Students with federal loans
- 33%
Programs: what graduates earn
25 of 92 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Undergraduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 71 | $34,058 | $17,860 |
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 27 | $59,420 | $22,143 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 18 | $53,927 | $13,375 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 30 | $31,103 | $19,990 |
| Computer Programming | 22 | $79,023 | — |
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 15 | $62,273 | $22,750 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 4 | $52,539 | $17,963 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 189 | $44,262 | $18,116 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 80 | $36,783 | $21,604 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 88 | $36,345 | $19,504 |
| Psychology, General | 31 | $34,647 | $20,249 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 26 | $34,465 | $23,250 |
| Education, General | — | $34,166 | $18,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 33 | $33,167 | $21,616 |
| Biology, General | 46 | $31,149 | $15,426 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 9 | $30,201 | $18,686 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 15 | $29,309 | — |
| Social Work | 15 | $27,936 | $21,234 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 19 | $52,943 | — |
| Public Health | 16 | $63,965 | — |
| Sociology | 3 | $40,957 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 1 | $62,576 | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 7 | $64,678 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum and Instruction | 9 | $44,060 | $21,805 |
| Business/Commerce, General | — | $58,131 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 3,019
- Graduate students
- 312
- Part-time
- 18%
- Women / men
- 60% / 40%
- White
- 65%
- Hispanic
- 10%
- Black
- 7%
- Asian
- 3%
- International
- 5%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 15:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $60,354 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 53%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.mssu.edu
- Also known as
- Missouri Southern
Most popular fields
- Computer & Information Sciences – 5% of degrees
- Education – 11% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 6% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 6% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies – 3% of degrees
- Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 3% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Missouri Southern State University?
97.0% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1065 on the SAT.
How much does Missouri Southern State University cost?
The average net price after grants is $12,007 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $8,960 and the full cost of attendance is $19,568.
How much do Missouri Southern State University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $42,620 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
42% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Joplin
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Christian College Joplin, MO · Private nonprofit · 602 students |
$20,580 | 94% | 64% | $41,297 |
| Franklin Technology Center Adult Education Joplin, MO · Public · 91 students |
$30,618 | — | 73% | $36,700 |
| New Dimensions School Joplin, MO · Private for-profit · 38 students |
$7,309 | — | 100% | $28,050 |
| Kansas City University-Joplin Joplin, MO · Private nonprofit |
— | — | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.