Missouri State University-West Plains is a public institution offering associate degrees based in West Plains, Missouri. It enrolls 965 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes32
Value52
Affordability44
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Missouri State University-West Plains generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Missouri State University-West Plains isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,750 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,750
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
9%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,936
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,106
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,450
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,115
Books & Supplies
$1,038
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,161
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$10,111
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,592
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,115
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,729
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,540
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,951
Over $110,000
$12,298
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,75025%percentile
$10,000Medianpercentile
$11,00075%percentile
$22,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,920
↓ $4,080
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,500
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,500
Independent students $8,000
↓ $2,000
Female students $6,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
18% of full-time students who enrolled at Missouri State University-West Plains graduate within six years, and 58% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
18%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
58%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Missouri State University-West Plains earn a median of $36,922 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,922
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,400, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Missouri State University-West Plains is home to 965 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
965
Part-Time
24%
First-Generation
49%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 84.3%813
Hispanic 4.4%42
Other 4.3%42
Black 3.3%32
Asian 1.6%15
International 0.4%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Missouri State University-West Plains. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteWest Plains, Missouri
Housing
Limited on-campus housing120 beds
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Missouri State University-West Plains offers
a varied set of programs:
16 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri State University-West Plains is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,057
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,835
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
38 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
8
21%
$73,858
Associate Professors
10
26%
$64,562
Assistant Professors
9
24%
$55,528
Instructors
7
18%
$52,748
Lecturers
4
11%
$42,069
Pros & Cons of Missouri State University-West Plains
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Missouri State University-West Plains tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Missouri State University-West Plains is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Missouri State University-West Plains
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Missouri State University-West Plains.
Is Missouri State University-West Plains hard to get into?
Missouri State University-West Plains has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Missouri State University-West Plains?
Missouri State University-West Plains has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Missouri State University-West Plains cost?
The average net price after aid at Missouri State University-West Plains is $9,750 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Missouri State University-West Plains worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,922 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,750 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Missouri State University-West Plains known for?
Missouri State University-West Plains is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Teaching Specific Subjects. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Missouri State University-West Plains graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Missouri State University-West Plains are $36,922, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Missouri State University-West Plains accredited?
Yes. Missouri State University-West Plains is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Missouri State University-West Plains?
Missouri State University-West Plains enrolls 965 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Missouri State University-West Plains?
Missouri State University-West Plains graduates 18% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Missouri State University-West Plains a public or private college?
Missouri State University-West Plains is a Public institution.
Where is Missouri State University-West Plains located?
Missouri State University-West Plains is located in West Plains, Missouri.
What programs does Missouri State University-West Plains offer?
Missouri State University-West Plains offers 16 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Teaching Specific Subjects.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri State University-West Plains?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri State University-West Plains is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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