Missouri State University
Springfield, MO
84%
Acceptance Rate
$8,888
Avg Cost (In-State)
$19,338
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
56%
Graduation Rate
22,394
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Generating requirements — this can take a few seconds for less- commonly-searched schools.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$37,499
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$42,647
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
39%
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.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Missouri State University
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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 ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
30.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
24.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
84.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
11.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
47.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
78.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
59.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
84% acceptance
Both admit around 84% of applicants, with 34k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA
83.8% acceptance
Both admit around 84% of applicants, with 12k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
83.6% acceptance
Both admit around 84% of applicants, with 22k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
84.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (85% vs 84%) but out-of-state cost runs $11k — meaningfully less than $19k.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
86.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (87% vs 84%) but out-of-state cost runs $13k — meaningfully less than $19k.
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
81.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (82% vs 84%) but out-of-state cost runs $9k — meaningfully less than $19k.
Reaches above this college
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
65.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but more selective (66% vs 84%) — a stretch target if Missouri State University is already on your list.
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR
56.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the region, but more selective (57% vs 84%) — a stretch target if Missouri State University is already on your list.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
7.7% acceptance
Same s setting in the Midwest, but more selective (8% vs 84%) — a stretch target if Missouri State University is already on your list.
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