Drury University's greatest strength lies in making private higher education accessible to students who might otherwise be unable to afford it, with particularly strong financial aid that brings costs well below typical private college levels.
The university serves as an important access point for first-generation and low-income students seeking personalized attention in a small college environment.
Drury University is a small private nonprofit institution in Springfield, Missouri, that serves a diverse student body with nearly 59% of students receiving Pell Grants and over 41% being first-generation college students. The university falls into the "Opportunity Builders" category, meaning it provides broad access to higher education while working to improve outcomes for the students it serves. With net prices around $11,262 for low-income families and $15,253 for middle-income families, Drury offers relatively affordable private education compared to many similar institutions.
The university's graduates earn a median of $40,694 ten years after enrollment, which places it in the lower third nationally for long-term earnings outcomes. However, this modest earnings performance should be viewed in context of Drury's mission as a small liberal arts institution that prioritizes access and affordability over maximizing graduate earnings. The university's 32% six-year graduation rate reflects the challenges many students face, though completion rates for Pell recipients actually exceed the overall institutional rate.
As a small private college with fewer than 1,000 students, Drury provides an intimate educational environment where students receive personalized attention and support. For families prioritizing affordability and access over earnings maximization, particularly those who are first-generation or low-income, Drury represents a pathway to higher education that might otherwise be financially out of reach.
Drury University's program portfolio reflects its liberal arts mission, with Psychology serving as the largest major by enrollment, graduating 33 students annually. However, Psychology graduates earn modest salaries of around $28,401 ten years out, illustrating the trade-off between program popularity and financial outcomes that characterizes many liberal arts institutions. The university's strongest earning programs tend to be smaller and more specialized, suggesting that students seeking higher financial returns should focus on these niche offerings.
The highest-earning opportunities at Drury come from specialized programs that combine smaller enrollment with stronger career outcomes. Digital Marketing graduates 23 students annually with early-career earnings around $47,260, while another specialized program (CIP4020) produces 24 graduates earning approximately $47,650. These programs represent the university's best financial value propositions, though their limited scale means they serve relatively few students compared to the larger liberal arts programs.
Overall, Drury's program mix emphasizes breadth over depth in high-earning fields, which aligns with its mission as a small liberal arts college but limits the financial upside for most graduates. Students should carefully consider program choice, as the difference between the highest-earning and most popular majors is substantial - nearly $20,000 in median earnings. For students prioritizing financial outcomes, focusing on the university's smaller, more specialized programs may provide better long-term returns than the larger liberal arts offerings.
Graduates of Drury University see modest long-term financial outcomes compared to national averages. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $40,694, which places the institution in the lower third nationally for graduate earnings. Early career earnings are even more constrained, with six-year median earnings of $37,508, reflecting the challenges many graduates face in translating their degrees into immediate economic advancement. The university's earnings performance falls short of what similar students achieve at other institutions, with graduates earning approximately $12,760 less than would be expected based on their backgrounds and characteristics.
Program-level outcomes vary significantly across Drury's offerings. The strongest financial returns come from specialized fields, with one program (CIP4020) producing 24 graduates who earn around $47,650 ten years out, representing the highest aggregate return among the university's programs. Digital Marketing also shows promise, with 23 graduates earning approximately $47,260 in their early careers. However, the university's largest program by enrollment is Psychology, which graduates 33 students annually but leads to more modest earnings of around $28,401 ten years after graduation.
The limited earnings outcomes reflect both Drury's small scale and its focus on liberal arts education rather than high-earning professional programs. With only 41 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually, the university produces relatively few high earners compared to larger institutions with stronger professional program portfolios. Students should understand that while Drury provides access to higher education, the financial returns may be more limited than at institutions with stronger career-focused programming.
Drury University offers strong affordability, particularly for low- and middle-income families seeking private higher education. Low-income students pay approximately $11,262 annually in net price, which represents excellent value for a private institution and places Drury in the top quartile nationally for affordability among similar colleges. Middle-income families face net costs around $15,253 per year, still well below what most private colleges charge and making Drury accessible to families who might otherwise be priced out of private education.
The university's financial aid strategy focuses heavily on making education accessible to students from modest economic backgrounds. With nearly 59% of students receiving Pell Grants, Drury clearly prioritizes serving low-income populations, and the institution's net pricing reflects this commitment. The substantial gap between sticker price and net price indicates that most families receive meaningful financial aid packages that bring costs down to manageable levels.
Debt levels at Drury are moderate and generally sustainable given the institution's focus on affordability. Typical graduates leave with about $20,979 in federal student loan debt, while families who choose to borrow through Parent PLUS loans take on an average of $17,880. These debt levels, while not insignificant, remain within reasonable bounds for most families, especially considering the substantial upfront savings through financial aid that reduce the need for extensive borrowing during the college years.
Drury University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
