Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Maryville, Missouri. It enrolls 4,378 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.
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 Selective). 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
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes42
Value60
Affordability52
Selectivity32
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.1%, Northwest Missouri State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
976 – 1193
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northwest Missouri State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwest Missouri 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 $16,244 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,244
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
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)
$10,611
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,324
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,282
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,622
Books & Supplies
$400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,576
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,576
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,945
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
$13,176
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,447
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,959
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,423
Over $110,000
$20,796
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.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$26,22975%percentile
$34,03890%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 $15,641
↓ $5,859
No Pell $13,500
↓ $8,000
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Independent students $12,219
↓ $9,281
Female students $15,000
↓ $6,500
Male students $14,000
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,850, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwest Missouri State University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $47,885 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,885
Earning > $25K
80%
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
$38,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,600, about 23% 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 ↑
13.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northwest Missouri State University is home to 4,378 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,378
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.4%3,474
Hispanic 5.4%238
Other 5.0%217
Black 4.7%207
International 3.1%135
Asian 0.5%22
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwest Missouri State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteMaryville, Missouri
Housing
Mostly residential2,339 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northwest Missouri State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
78 distinct programs across
21 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 Northwest Missouri State University is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,878
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$44M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,950
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
230 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
29
13%
$92,439
Associate Professors
63
27%
$76,082
Assistant Professors
83
36%
$67,438
Instructors
50
22%
$59,262
Lecturers
5
2%
$56,842
Pros & Cons of Northwest Missouri State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwest Missouri State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwest Missouri State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Missouri State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwest Missouri State University.
Is Northwest Missouri State University hard to get into?
Northwest Missouri State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwest Missouri State University?
Northwest Missouri State University has an acceptance rate of 86.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Northwest Missouri State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwest Missouri State University scored between 976 and 1193 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Northwest Missouri State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Northwest Missouri State University scored between 19 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Northwest Missouri State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwest Missouri State University is $16,244 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest Missouri State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,885 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,244 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwest Missouri State University known for?
Northwest Missouri State University is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Educational Administration, Educational Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwest Missouri State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwest Missouri State University are $47,885, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwest Missouri State University accredited?
Yes. Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northwest Missouri State University?
Northwest Missouri State University enrolls 4,378 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest Missouri State University?
Northwest Missouri State University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwest Missouri State University a public or private college?
Northwest Missouri State University is a Public institution.
Where is Northwest Missouri State University located?
Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri.
What programs does Northwest Missouri State University offer?
Northwest Missouri State University offers 78 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Educational Administration, Educational Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Missouri State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest Missouri State University is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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