College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO 13,313 Undergrads 59.7% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$25,048
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,613
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,058
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,613
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$53,058
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$49,827
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate59.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.9
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients30.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.5%
SAT Avg
1,122
SAT Reading
25th: 51055575th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 51055075th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 26

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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
+$479k
+$12k
-$5k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$416k
-$51k
-$69k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$389k
-$78k
-$95k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-108%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-106%
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-90%

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-73%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,742
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
CertCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,166
Earnings (4yr)
$88,734
Natl Median: $77,690
Lifetime Value Added
+$462k
Dispute Resolution
CertCIP: 3028
Median Debt
$20,039
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,844
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,166
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,646
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
CertCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,812
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,763
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$22,772
Earnings (4yr)
$70,614
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
$17,125
Earnings (4yr)
$50,995
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,412
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$65,601
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$19,593
Earnings (4yr)
$41,658
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (4yr)
$38,870
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
$25,510
Earnings (4yr)
$54,347
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,550
Earnings (4yr)
$51,897
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,247
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
$22,419
Earnings (4yr)
$56,215
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,636
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,517
Earnings (4yr)
$56,984
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,563
Earnings (4yr)
$50,065
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,774
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,094
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,088
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$98,563
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,053
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$50,814
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,621
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$37,959
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,793
Earnings (4yr)
$65,804
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
$21,402
Earnings (4yr)
$38,690
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (2yr)
$31,848
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,227
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
$26,200
Earnings (4yr)
$40,386
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,420
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$24,984
Earnings (4yr)
$48,191
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$65,127
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,251
Earnings (4yr)
$38,485
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
$24,728
Earnings (4yr)
$53,789
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$54,226
Natl Median: $59,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$22,865
Earnings (4yr)
$41,866
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,899
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (4yr)
$37,180
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,814
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
$22,588
Earnings (4yr)
$47,696
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,766
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
$25,845
Earnings (4yr)
$80,753
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,333
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,922
Earnings (4yr)
$77,471
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,984
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$41,550
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,267
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
$19,160
Earnings (4yr)
$58,014
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,956
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
$22,505
Earnings (4yr)
$60,390
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
$26,020
Earnings (4yr)
$79,615
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$26,189
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,793
Earnings (4yr)
$54,917
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$265k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,974
Earnings (4yr)
$46,403
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,425
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
$21,742
Earnings (4yr)
$40,846
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,070
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$38,413
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,417
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$42,618
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,444
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$59,227
Earnings (4yr)
$114,137
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,738
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,039
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
$32,305
Earnings (4yr)
$50,313
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,831
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,307
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,197
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,408
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,809
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,182
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$266k
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,520
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$383k
Natural Sciences
MastCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,321
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
MastCIP: 0111
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,814
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,762
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,486
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,405
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$219,023
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1196k
Median Debt
$48,995
Earnings (4yr)
$68,531
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$121,063
Natl Median: $123,887
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,296
Earnings (4yr)
$54,418
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,990
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$307k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$475k
Median Debt
$45,494
Earnings (4yr)
$51,844
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Median Debt
$35,589
Earnings (4yr)
$44,969
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$288k
Median Debt
$20,354
Earnings (4yr)
$42,231
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$315k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,004
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,361
Earnings (4yr)
$99,031
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,138
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,965
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dispute Resolution
Gr-CertCIP: 3028
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,194
Natl Median: $73,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $121,041
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,510
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,606
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,495
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,095
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Gr-CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,444
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
$69,145
Earnings (4yr)
$218,334
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$896k
Median Debt
$73,214
Earnings (4yr)
$77,435
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,347
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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.