Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Drury University #1120 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,568, placing Drury University in the 9.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Drury University sits in the 33.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Drury University #1120 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Springfield, Missouri, Drury University enrolls roughly 1,383 undergraduates. Retention stands at 79.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts-focused institution. Where Drury University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Drury University #1236 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,691 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Drury University in the 33.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects both the institution's strength in Biological Sciences and its ability to support students into careers with solid long-term financial trajectories. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Drury University enrolls 64.1% Pell-eligible students and 41.3% first-generation undergraduates, placing it in the 29.0 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 83.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the tuition structure of a private institution balanced against institutional aid availability. For families evaluating Drury University, the composite positioning suggests a school where return on investment is the primary strength, supported by solid completion rates and earnings outcomes that exceed those of comparable institutions.
Drury University's published cost of attendance is $19,698. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,291; middle-income families pay around $10,486; higher-income families pay approximately $13,948. Azimuth ranks Drury University #235 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Drury University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The difference between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the net price illusion — sticker price matters less than what families actually pay after aid. Families should review the institution's financial aid page to understand aid eligibility, application requirements, and whether merit scholarships are available alongside need-based aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,979, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,668; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,568, median federal debt of $20,979 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Drury University is a strong fit for students interested in biological sciences and related fields who want a private university experience in Springfield, MO. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $47,568, placing Drury University in the 9.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,691 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 33.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 64.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.3% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Drury University in the 5.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 57.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors biological sciences and related fields — students whose interests align with those areas will find strong outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Drury University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Drury University's published cost of attendance is $19,698. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $9,291; middle-income families pay around $10,486; higher-income families pay approximately $13,948. Azimuth ranks Drury University #235 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Drury University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid.
The difference between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — sticker price matters less than what families actually pay after aid. Families should review the institution's financial aid page to understand aid eligibility, application requirements, and whether merit scholarships are available alongside need-based aid.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,979, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,668; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,568, median federal debt of $20,979 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Drury University earn median 4-year earnings of $47,568, placing Drury University in the 9.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,691 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Drury University in the 33.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Drury University #1236 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Drury University's concentration in Biological Sciences.
Architecture is the largest program with 30 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $70,134, at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 29 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,387, performing at 0.9x the benchmark.
Business Administration and Design and Applied Arts round out the top programs, with Business Administration enrolling 24 graduates earning $52,286 at 0.8x benchmark performance. These outcomes position Drury University as a solid choice for students pursuing careers in life sciences and related fields where regional demand remains steady.
Accounting and Related Services
7 graduates
Architecture
30 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
17 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
24 graduates
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
7 graduates
Drury University's program mix is anchored in biological sciences, business, and professional fields—a portfolio reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts university with strong pre-professional pathways. Architecture is the largest program with 30 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Business Administration, and Design and Applied Arts.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 356 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional and national labor markets. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied health and business fields.
Architecture graduates earn median earnings of $70,134 four years after enrollment, while Business Administration graduates earn $52,286 and Biology, General graduates earn $49,387. Psychology, General and Teacher Education round out the highest-earning cohorts with graduates earning $42,425 and $37,713 respectively.
These outcomes correspond to the institution's concentration in Business (representing 17% of degrees), Arts (10%), and Social Sciences (9%), fields where employers recruit actively and career pathways are well-established. Many of Drury University's highest-earning programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national wage trends in health, business, and applied professional fields.
