Public Graduate Good 62/100

Missouri Western State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Saint Joseph, Missouri

About Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Saint Joseph, Missouri. It enrolls 2,219 students (a mid-sized 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.

Acceptance
Graduation
34.3%
Net Price
$13,251
Median Earnings (10yr)
$42,647
Enrollment
2,219
Student : Faculty
14:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). 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
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 45
Value 50
Affordability 39
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Missouri Western State University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Missouri Western State University 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 $13,251 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$13,251
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
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)
$10,306
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,866
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,311
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,007
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,860
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,860
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,595

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
    $11,243
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $11,674
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $13,965
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $16,119
  • Over $110,000
    $17,764

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.

$2,750
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$19,968
Median percentile
$23,666
75% percentile
$36,500
90% 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 $12,194 ↓ $7,774
No Pell $10,856 ↓ $9,112
Dependent students $11,195 ↓ $8,773
Independent students $15,550 ↓ $4,418
Female students $12,250 ↓ $7,718
Male students $10,804 ↓ $9,164
Pell recipients: 16.7% (3,342 students)No Pell: 14.9% (2,976 students)Dependent students: 15.4% (3,069 students)Independent students: 21.3% (4,262 students)Female students: 16.8% (3,358 students)Male students: 14.8% (2,961 students)Overall Median$19,968
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,336, less than completers ($19,968), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

34% of full-time students who enrolled at Missouri Western State University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
34%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
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 Western State University earn a median of $42,647 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,647
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$37,000$38,000$40,000$42,000$43,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$34,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$43,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$34,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$37,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$44,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,600, about 20% 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 17.0 pts across 6 years
64.5%1yr71.4%3yr79.8%5yr81.5%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Missouri Western State University is home to 2,219 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
2,219
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
40%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 65.7% 1,457
Black 14.0% 310
Other 10.6% 236
Asian 1.5% 34
Hispanic 1.3% 29
International 1.1% 25
White: 65.7% (1,457 students)Black: 14.0% (310 students)Other: 10.6% (236 students)Asian: 1.5% (34 students)Hispanic: 1.3% (29 students)International: 1.1% (25 students)Total2,219

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Missouri Western State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City Saint Joseph, Missouri
Housing
Mostly residential 1,239 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Missouri Western State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 55 distinct programs across 23 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.

5 Programs
6 Programs
3 Programs
2 Programs
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri Western State University is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,662
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$37M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,783
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

129 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 41 32% $83,765
Associate Professors 30 23% $67,781
Assistant Professors 40 31% $65,634
Instructors 16 12% $49,675
No Rank 2 2% $57,000

Pros & Cons of Missouri Western State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Missouri Western State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Reasonable class sizes
CONS
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about Missouri Western State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Missouri Western State University.

How much does Missouri Western State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Missouri Western State University is $13,251 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Missouri Western State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,647 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,251 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Missouri Western State University known for?
Missouri Western State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Missouri Western State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Missouri Western State University are $42,647, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Missouri Western State University accredited?
Yes. Missouri Western State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Missouri Western State University?
Missouri Western State University enrolls 2,219 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Missouri Western State University?
Missouri Western State University graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Missouri Western State University a public or private college?
Missouri Western State University is a Public institution.
Where is Missouri Western State University located?
Missouri Western State University is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
What programs does Missouri Western State University offer?
Missouri Western State University offers 55 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri Western State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Missouri Western State University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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