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Joplin, MO · Saint Joseph, MO
| Missouri Southern State University | Missouri Western State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $12,007/yr | $13,251/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,759/yr | $11,243/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $19,174 | $19,968 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,132/yr | $11,674/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,233/yr | $13,965/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $14,578/yr | $16,119/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $15,083/yr | $17,764/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $203/mo | $212/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,119/yr | $12,311/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,547/yr | $16,007/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,221/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,672/yr | $4,860/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $19,568/yr | $21,595/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,960/yr | $10,306/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $17,080/yr | $20,866/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 34% | 28% |
| Students taking federal loans | 33% | 28% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 97% | No data reported |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1150–1420 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1065 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–24 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–24 · Math 16–24 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | No data reported |
| Applications received | 2,302 | No data reported |
| Students accepted | 2,243 | No data reported |
| Students who enrolled | 579 | No data reported |
| Accepted students who enroll | 26% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 3% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 69% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | No data reported |
| High-school transcript | Required | No data reported |
| Essay | Not considered | No data reported |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | No data reported |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | No data reported |
| College-prep program | Not considered | No data reported |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | No data reported |
| Work experience | Not considered | No data reported |
| English proficiency test | Required | No data reported |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | No data reported |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | No data reported |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Open admission (everyone qualified gets in) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 42% | 39% |
| Freshmen who come back | 63% | 54% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $42,620/yr | $42,647/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $27,146–$61,890 | $26,153–$62,659 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 45% | 43% |
| White students graduating | 44% | 41% |
| Black students graduating | 18% | 27% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 33% | 36% |
| Asian students graduating | 66% | 69% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $37,866/yr | $37,499/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 62% | 63% |
| Graduate on time | 25% | 23% |
| Pell students who graduate | 33% | 32% |
| First-gen students who finish | 35% | 30% |
| Low-income students who finish | 32% | 27% |
| Students who transfer out | 26% | 28% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $42,477/yr | $40,961/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 19% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 14% | Health Professions 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Education 9% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 19% of degrees | Health Professions — 20% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 14% of degrees | Education — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 11% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Psychology — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $62,273/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $70,938/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 13% | 11% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,019 | 2,219 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 266 | 225 |
| Average professor pay | $6,706/mo | $7,902/mo |
| Full-time professors | 53% | 62% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $33,600 | $36,641 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (small) |
| Location | Joplin, MO | Saint Joseph, MO |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1937 | 1915 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5% | 1.1% |
| Men | 40% | 41% |
| Women | 60% | 59% |
| White students | 65% | 66% |
| Black students | 7% | 14% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 10% | 1.3% |
| Asian students | 3.4% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 1.3% | 9.2% |
| Other / not reported | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 45% | 40% |
| Part-time students | 18% | 11% |
| Students age 25+ | 19% | 9.3% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,817/yr | $6,261/yr |
| Endowment | $53.9M | $40.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 798 | 1,239 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,400/yr | $5,540/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $2,772/yr | $5,116/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | No data reported |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 11 | 13 |
| Student athletes | 413 | 375 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.8M | $3.3M |
| Athletics budget | $9.5M | $10.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $9.6M | $10.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $121,717 | $93,514 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.