Public · Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western State University is a public institution in Saint Joseph, Missouri. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.

$13,251
Avg net price / yr
$42,647
10-yr median earnings
39.1%
150%-time completion

The verdict

Missouri Western State University posts above-median former-student earnings.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 45%
former-student earnings, US
39.1%
150%-time completion
+14%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Small Carnegie: Master's (S)
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Missouri Western State University profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

D
College Value Score
44/100
Missouri Western State University

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings C-
$42,647
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price B-
$13,251
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate F
39.1%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$19,968
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B
71.4%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention F
53.8%
First-year students returning for year two
Missouri Western State University vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$42,647

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$13,251

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

39.1%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 39.1%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Missouri Western State University vs peers

Missouri Western State University positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Missouri Western State University positioned… Carnegie Classification: Master's (S) Master's (… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $28K $59K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $6K $29K Avg Net Price ($) Missouri Western State University (you are here): $43K earn · $13K net · 39% grad You are here - Missouri Western S… State Technical College of Missouri: $56K earn · $15K net · 82% grad State Technical Co… Truman State University: $56K earn · $13K net · 68% grad Truman State Unive… Jefferson College: $41K earn · $7K net · 35% grad Jefferson College Crowder College: $36K earn · $9K net · 46% grad Crowder College Three Rivers College: $32K earn · $8K net · 34% grad Three Rivers College State Fair Community College: $36K earn · $8K net · 42% grad Benedictine College: $53K earn · $28K net · 63% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Missouri Western State University ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Missouri Western State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$42,647 Top 45% higher than 55% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Missouri Western State University National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $42,647 #2280 of 5103 55th
Average net price $13,251 #1754 of 5020 65th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 39.1% #3711 of 4858 24th
Undergraduate enrollment 2,219 #1372 of 5462 75th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

2,219
Undergraduate enrollment
-
Acceptance rate
-
SAT average
39.1%
150%-time completion
$42,647
10-yr median earnings
53.8%
First-year retention

How Missouri Western State University ranks in Missouri

State rank among 120 reporting Missouri colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Missouri Western State University State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $42,647 #54 of 120 55th
Average net price $13,251 #29 of 119 76th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 39.1% #92 of 107 14th
Undergraduate enrollment 2,219 #26 of 125 79th

Highest former-student earnings in Missouri

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis$137,047$31,817
2Chamberlain University-Missouri$92,405$30,716
3Washington University in St Louis$86,182$21,786
4Research College of Nursing$85,910-
5Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing$84,393-
6Missouri University of Science and Technology$82,957$16,298
7Saint Louis University$70,783$24,398
8Rockhurst University$67,102$25,884
9University of Missouri-Columbia$63,403$20,268
10Maryville University of Saint Louis$62,105$22,066
11Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences$60,918$19,390
12University of Missouri-Kansas City$59,637$13,310
54Missouri Western State UniversityThis school$42,647$13,251

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Missouri Western State University

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Missouri Western State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $10,306
Out-of-State Tuition $20,866
Average Net Price $13,251
28.4%
Pell Grant Rate
27.9%
Federal Loan Rate
$19,968
Median Debt
$212/mo
Monthly Payment

What students pay at Missouri Western State University rose +26.9% since 2013

Average net price for the reported Title IV-recipient cohort went from $9,958 in 2013 to $12,638 in 2023, a rise of $2,680 in nominal dollars. Across the 4,315 colleges measured over the same 2013–2023 span, the median change was +14.6%.

Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $9,9582014: $10,3672015: $10,2512016: $10,0262017: $10,9052018: $10,6072019: $10,9582020: $10,8972021: $13,2202022: $11,7022023: $12,638
2013 · $9,9582023 · $12,638

Over the same years, enrollment went -51.6% (4,902 → 2,372 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

61.9%
Female
39.7%
First Generation

Outcomes

53.8%
Retention Rate
$37,499
Median Earnings (6yr)
57.1%
Earning Over $25K
71.4%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 39.1%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 53.8%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $37,499
Median earnings 10 years after entry $42,647
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 57.1%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 71.4%
Median federal student debt At completion $19,968
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $212/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Bachelor's 25 588 $53,491 $74,875 $21,297
Master's 2 40 $66,096 $66,096 $21,606
Associate's 1 12 $48,876 $48,876 -

Top programs at Missouri Western State University by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 104 $74,875 $22,500
Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's 5 $68,405 $18,350
Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's 17 $67,011 $19,381
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Master's 0 $66,096 -
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician Bachelor's 3 $65,896 -
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 40 $62,581 $22,810
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 26 $60,025 $20,500
Marketing Bachelor's 18 $57,015 $18,143
Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's 15 $55,059 -
Biology, General Bachelor's 37 $53,505 $24,935
Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's 32 $52,709 $19,947
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's 57 $51,174 $21,102
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate's 12 $48,876 -
Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's 12 $48,596 -
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management Bachelor's 10 $47,177 -

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admissions statistics for Missouri Western State University?
Missouri Western State University is a public institution in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Undergraduate enrollment is 2,219 students.
How much do Missouri Western State University former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Missouri Western State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $42,647 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $37,499.
How much does Missouri Western State University cost?
The average net price at Missouri Western State University is $13,251. In-state tuition is $10,306 and out-of-state tuition is $20,866. Median student debt at graduation is $19,968.
What is the graduation rate at Missouri Western State University?
Missouri Western State University has a 39.1% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 53.8%.
Is Missouri Western State University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Missouri Western State University is $19,968, while former students earn a median of $42,647 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 47% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 71.4% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $212.

Sources & methodology

Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.

Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Missouri Western State University

Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.