Missouri Southern State University — College Profile

About

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) in Joplin is best known for its state-designated international mission and strong pre-professional programs in health sciences, business, teacher education, and criminal justice. The university distinguishes itself through distinctive opportunities like the "Yours to Lose" program—which provides qualified students an accelerated, direct pathway into medical school—as well as heavily subsidized study abroad grants designed to make global learning accessible. Campus life offers an affordable, close-knit environment where students actively engage in hands-on undergraduate research, international cultural events, and competitive NCAA Division II athletics.

Wikipedia:Missouri Southern State University is a public university in Joplin, Missouri. It was established in 1937 as Joplin Junior College. The university enrolled 4,087 students in Fall 2023.

Location

Joplin, MO, 64801-1595 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MCI · Kansas City

153 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,960$17,080

Housing & food (on campus)$9,119$9,119

Books & supplies$1,221$1,221

Cost of attendance$19,568$33,200

Average net price$12,007Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$17,080

In-state: $8,960

Housing & food (on campus)$9,119

Books & supplies$1,221

Cost of attendance$33,200

In-state: $19,568

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $12,007

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.mssu.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

Missouri Southern State University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$17,556

Fees$840

Housing$9,530

Books & supplies$1,401

Personal expenses$2,493

Transportation$1,380

Total published by the school$33,200

Source: www.mssu.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$9,759

$30–48k

$10,132

$48–75k

$11,233

$75–110k

$14,578

$110k+

$15,083

Your family's actual price → Missouri Southern State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$5,438

Share of first-years who get one21%

Source: Missouri Southern State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

40%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

25%

Back for yr 2

63%

Transferred

28%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

39% graduated · 30% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 30% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$37,866

10 yrs after entry$42,620

Debt

Median at graduation$19,174

Monthly payment$203

Middle 50% owe$4.5k–$21.6k

90th percentile$33,304

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

97%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1065

R 540–690 · M 610–730

ACT midpoint

Comp 17–24 · E 15–24 · M 16–24

SAT middle 50%: 1150–1420

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Missouri Southern State University: Not considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Missouri Southern State University's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Missouri Southern State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 40%Women 60%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

15 : 1

Pell grant

34%

First-gen

45%

Family income

$33,600

Independent

33%

Veterans

Age at entry

23.0

Part-time

18%

Race & ethnicity

White

65%

Hispanic

10%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$37,866

After 10 yrs

$42,620

Business/Commerce, General189

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods88

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities80

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General52

Biology, General46

Criminal Justice and Corrections33

Psychology, General31

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness26

Computer and Information Sciences, General19

Health and Medical Administrative Services19

Public Health16

Social Work15

Fine and Studio Arts15

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing15

English Language and Literature, General13

Communication and Media Studies9

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$54M

Full-time faculty

53%

Faculty salary

$6,706/mo

Teaching spend

$9,817

per student

Federal loans

33%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (small programs)

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, inclusive admissions