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Joplin, MO · Maryville, MO
| Missouri Southern State University | Northwest Missouri State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $12,007/yr | $16,244/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,759/yr | $13,176/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $19,174 | $21,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,132/yr | $13,447/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,233/yr | $13,959/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $14,578/yr | $17,423/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $15,083/yr | $20,796/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $203/mo | $228/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,119/yr | $12,282/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,547/yr | $11,622/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,221/yr | $400/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,672/yr | $2,576/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $19,568/yr | $24,945/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,960/yr | $10,611/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $17,080/yr | $17,324/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 34% | 27% |
| Students taking federal loans | 33% | 42% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 97% | 86% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1150–1420 | 976–1193 |
| SAT average | 1065 | 1119 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–24 | 19–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–24 · Math 16–24 | English 18–24 · Math 18–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,302 | 6,834 |
| Students accepted | 2,243 | 5,871 |
| Students who enrolled | 579 | 1,035 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 26% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 3% | 2% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 69% | 76% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 42% | 54% |
| Freshmen who come back | 63% | 74% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $42,620/yr | $47,885/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $27,146–$61,890 | $34,086–$66,291 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 45% | 55% |
| White students graduating | 44% | 58% |
| Black students graduating | 18% | 29% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 33% | 37% |
| Asian students graduating | 66% | 55% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $37,866/yr | $41,695/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 62% | 76% |
| Graduate on time | 25% | 42% |
| Pell students who graduate | 33% | 43% |
| First-gen students who finish | 35% | 46% |
| Low-income students who finish | 32% | 37% |
| Students who transfer out | 26% | 26% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $42,477/yr | $44,756/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 19% · Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 14% | Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Education 16% · Agriculture & Veterinary Science 9% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 19% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees | Education — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 14% of degrees | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $62,273/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $67,026/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 13% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,019 | 4,378 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 266 | 3,911 |
| Average professor pay | $6,706/mo | $8,101/mo |
| Full-time professors | 53% | 80% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $33,600 | $56,470 |
| Setting | City (small) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Joplin, MO | Maryville, MO |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1937 | 1905 |
| 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: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5% | 3.1% |
| Men | 40% | 39% |
| Women | 60% | 61% |
| White students | 65% | 79% |
| Black students | 7% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 10% | 5.4% |
| Asian students | 3.4% | 0.5% |
| Two or more races | 1.3% | 4.3% |
| Other / not reported | 8.1% | 2.6% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 45% | 31% |
| Part-time students | 18% | 9.5% |
| Students age 25+ | 19% | 8.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,817/yr | $7,192/yr |
| Endowment | $53.9M | $48.7M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 798 | 2,339 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,400/yr | $7,436/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $2,772/yr | $4,352/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | No |
| 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 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 413 | 426 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.8M | $3.6M |
| Athletics budget | $9.5M | $15.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $9.6M | $15.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $121,717 | $135,220 |
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.