Overview
Enrollment
Missouri Southern State University, located in Joplin, offers a primarily suburban setting in the southwestern region of Missouri, not far from the borders with Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Established in 1937 as Joplin Junior College, the institution has evolved to provide a selection of undergraduate degrees across liberal arts, business, education, and health sciences, showing a particular emphasis on its internationally-themed semesters and its health programs. The campus is characterized by contemporary architecture and offers on-campus housing options for students. With an admissions process that can be classified as moderately selective, Missouri Southern State University serves a diverse body of students and maintains a student-faculty ratio that fosters personal attention. While the university may not have wide renown for athletics, it supports a variety of sports programs competing as the Lions within the NCAA Division II.
In the most recent statistical year 1,937 prospective students applied, and 1,927 were granted admission. Of those admitted 605 enrolled in the school. 2,593 students are enrolled on a full time basis, and 1,551 attend part time. In-state tuition for 2022/2023, excluding room and board, is $8,026 plus fees of $0. Missouri Southern is ranked 911 nationally in the CollegeSimply.com 2024 U.S. Colleges Ranking.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Missouri Southern is rated within the lower 33% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 4 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Missouri Southern State University within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#911 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#366 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#17 in Best Colleges in Missouri
#8 in Best Public Colleges in Missouri
#47 in Best Value Colleges in Missouri
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 960/1220 |
| ACT | 18/24 |
| GPA | 3.5 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | - |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $30 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Missouri Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $902 |
| Other Fees | $0 |
| Room and Board | $7,624 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,459 |
| Total One Year Cost | $20,011 |
Out of State Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $902 |
| Other Fees | $0 |
| Room and Board | $7,624 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,459 |
| Total One Year Cost | $28,037 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Business | 19% |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting | 16% |
| Health Professions | 15% |
| Education | 13% |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 8% |
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Students considering Missouri Southern are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=178341 IPEDS survey data for Missouri Southern State University.
Current students may use the Missouri Southern State University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.