Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO
90.5%
Acceptance Rate
$9,502
Avg Cost (In-State)
$18,770
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
57.6%
Graduation Rate
13,313
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
July 20
Common App
No
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for general admission
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$40,553
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$49,827
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
58%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $34,255 | $38,413 | 435 |
| Psychology, General. | $29,487 | $43,956 | 244 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $40,968 | $60,247 | 222 |
| Marketing. | $43,641 | $66,333 | 197 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $32,076 | $50,065 | 183 |
| Criminology. | $36,185 | $49,053 | 137 |
| Biology, General. | $34,717 | $51,897 | 122 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | $43,364 | $56,215 | 104 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at Missouri State University-Springfield
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Missouri State University-Springfield
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Truman State President's Honorary Scholarship
$11,000-$14,000/year (full tuition)
universityTop automatic merit at MO public liberal arts; 30+ ACT/3.8 GPA range.
Deadline: December 1 (priority)
Learn more ↗Missouri Access Missouri
Up to $2,850 (4-yr publics); $2,150 (CC); $4,600 (privates)
stateMO residents with financial need at MO postsecondary institutions.
Deadline: FAFSA by February 1
Learn more ↗Missouri Bright Flight
Up to $3,000/year
stateMO residents in top 3% of MO ACT scores (~31+ ACT or equivalent).
Deadline: FAFSA by February 1
Learn more ↗Cottey College Transfer Scholarship
Merit + need-based aid for women transferring from Cottey College to 4-year
universityWomen completing the 2-year associate degree at Cottey College (women's college in Nevada, MO, owned by PEO Sisterhood) transferring to a 4-year institution; comprehensive transfer support + PEO network.
Deadline: Apply through Cottey
Learn more ↗Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Scholarships
$500-$5,000+
localKC metro students; one app for dozens of funds.
Deadline: January 31
Learn more ↗Missouri A+ Scholarship
Tuition + fees at MO public 2-year/technical schools
stateMO HS grads from A+-designated schools with 2.5+ GPA, 95% attendance, 50 hours mentoring service.
Deadline: FAFSA + school certification
Learn more ↗WashU Need-Met (Pell Promise)
Full tuition + housing for Pell-eligible students
universityWashU admitted students who are Pell-eligible; loan-free aid package.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗St. Louis Promise (STL College Now)
Tuition + fees at STLCC
localSt. Louis area HS grads attending St. Louis CC.
Deadline: Through STLCC
Learn more ↗St. Louis University Presidential Scholarship
Up to full tuition
universityTop SLU incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 90.5% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
90.53%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
22.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
32.3%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
10.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
77.3%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
57.9%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA
90.5% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
90.4% acceptance
Both admit around 90% of applicants, with 18k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA
90.6% acceptance
Both admit around 91% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
84.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (85% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $19k.
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
98.3% acceptance
Similar selectivity (98% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $19k.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
97.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (98% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $19k.
Reaches above this college
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
79.6% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but more selective (80% vs 91%) — a stretch target if Missouri State University-Springfield is already on your list.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI
75.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but more selective (76% vs 91%) — a stretch target if Missouri State University-Springfield is already on your list.
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
65.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but more selective (66% vs 91%) — a stretch target if Missouri State University-Springfield is already on your list.
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