Students from low-income backgrounds at Westminster College achieve earnings that place the institution in the top 20% nationally, demonstrating exceptional effectiveness in promoting economic mobility.
The college combines broad access with strong outcomes, earning recognition as a Mobility Engine that transforms educational opportunity into meaningful career advancement.
Westminster College is a small private liberal arts institution in Fulton, Missouri, that demonstrates how personalized education can drive meaningful outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds. While the college serves a relatively modest student body, it has earned recognition as a "Mobility Engine" — institutions that combine broad access with strong upward mobility outcomes for low-income students.
Nearly 40% of Westminster students receive Pell Grants, and about 27% are first-generation college students, reflecting the college's commitment to serving students who might not otherwise have access to higher education. Despite this broad accessibility, graduates achieve solid long-term earnings, with a median of $52,199 ten years after enrollment. What makes Westminster particularly noteworthy is how well low-income students perform — they earn about $52,400 at the ten-year mark, placing the college in the top 20% nationally for low-income student earnings.
As a small liberal arts college, Westminster offers the intimate campus experience and close faculty relationships that many students seek, while maintaining affordability levels that make private education accessible to middle- and lower-income families. The college's Missouri location provides a lower cost-of-living environment where graduates' earnings stretch further than in many metropolitan areas.
Westminster College's program portfolio centers around practical, career-focused fields that provide clear pathways to employment and professional advancement. Business Administration serves as the college's flagship offering, graduating 32 students annually with median ten-year earnings of $47,260. This program represents Westminster's highest aggregate return, combining solid enrollment with competitive earnings outcomes that reflect the college's emphasis on preparing students for immediate workforce entry.
The concentration in business reflects Westminster's practical approach to liberal arts education, focusing on programs that balance intellectual development with career preparation. As a small college, Westminster's limited program array allows for concentrated resources and personalized attention within each field of study. The business program benefits from small class sizes, close faculty mentorship, and strong alumni networks that continue to support graduates well into their careers.
While Westminster's program portfolio may appear narrow compared to larger institutions, this focused approach allows the college to deliver high-quality education with strong employment outcomes. The emphasis on business and related professional fields aligns with the college's mission of providing accessible private education that leads to meaningful career advancement, particularly for first-generation and lower-income students who benefit from clear, structured pathways to professional success.
Westminster College graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $52,199 ten years after enrollment. While these earnings fall around the national average for similar institutions, they represent meaningful economic progress for the types of students Westminster serves. The college's return on investment becomes particularly compelling when considering the strong outcomes achieved by students from lower-income backgrounds.
Business Administration stands out as Westminster's flagship program, graduating 32 students annually with median earnings of $47,260 ten years out. This program represents the college's highest aggregate return offering, combining solid enrollment numbers with competitive earnings outcomes. The concentration in business reflects Westminster's practical approach to career preparation, focusing on fields that provide clear pathways to stable employment and professional advancement.
What distinguishes Westminster is how consistently it helps students from all economic backgrounds achieve meaningful career progress. The college's small size allows for personalized career guidance and strong alumni networks that continue to benefit graduates well into their careers. For students seeking a supportive environment that prioritizes individual attention over institutional prestige, Westminster delivers outcomes that justify the investment in private liberal arts education.
Westminster College maintains relatively accessible pricing for a private institution, though affordability varies significantly by family income level. Low-income students pay about $22,825 annually after aid, while middle-income families see net costs around $24,412 per year. Even high-income families pay approximately $29,055 annually, which represents substantial savings compared to many private colleges where net prices can exceed $40,000.
The college's financial aid strategy appears designed to make private education accessible to students who might not otherwise afford it. With nearly 40% of students receiving Pell Grants, Westminster clearly prioritizes serving lower-income families while maintaining reasonable costs for middle-class students. The relatively modest variation in net price across income bands suggests that the college uses aid strategically to keep education within reach for most families.
Debt levels at Westminster are manageable relative to typical private college outcomes. Students graduate with median federal loan debt of $27,000, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $24,826. These amounts, while substantial, align with what graduates can reasonably service given Westminster's solid earnings outcomes and Missouri's lower cost of living.
Westminster College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
