Back to Colleges
Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO 3,019 Undergrads 45.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,568
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,007
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,419
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,007
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$52,419
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate45.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
97.0%
SAT Avg
1,065
SAT Reading
25th: 54051575th: 690
SAT Math
25th: 61054575th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: 172175th: 24
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$474k
+$7k
-$11k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$431k
-$36k
-$54k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$403k
-$64k
-$81k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-125%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-115%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-101%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-69%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$17,860
Earnings (4yr)
$42,086
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,202
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
CertCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,242
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,511
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
CertCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Security Science and Technology
CertCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
CertCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
CertCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$13,375
Earnings (4yr)
$56,097
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,023
Natl Median: $58,070
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,990
Earnings (4yr)
$46,582
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$22,143
Earnings (4yr)
$67,589
Natl Median: $61,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,426
Earnings (4yr)
$40,412
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$18,116
Earnings (4yr)
$55,286
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$18,686
Earnings (4yr)
$41,771
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,295
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,616
Earnings (4yr)
$49,114
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$39,273
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,402
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$17,963
Earnings (4yr)
$64,765
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,902
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$21,604
Earnings (4yr)
$46,892
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,576
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,249
Earnings (4yr)
$41,008
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,965
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$75,985
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,234
Earnings (4yr)
$49,855
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,957
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,701
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,504
Earnings (4yr)
$39,419
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,131
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$21,805
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.