Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Harris-Stowe State University #470 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Harris-Stowe State University sits in the 94.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a broad-access mission that serves a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students in Saint Louis. Azimuth ranks Harris-Stowe State University #1397 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Harris-Stowe State University's composite standing is anchored by its access and mobility performance working together — opening doors for students who face the highest barriers to degree completion and connecting them to career pathways in Saint Louis's regional labor market. The institution's strongest pillars are access and mobility, reflecting a mission centered on serving Pell-eligible and first-generation students at public-tuition pricing in Missouri.
Azimuth ranks Harris-Stowe State University #470 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 68.3 percentile. The current structured profile shows retention at 68.4% and a six-year graduation rate of 27.6%. Return on investment ranks #891, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,752. Graduates earn about $13,712 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 91.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 81.3 percentile; published cost of attendance is $21,493, and the middle-income net price is $9,814. Access sits in the 94.7 percentile, with 73.7% receiving Pell Grants and 47.3% first-generation.
Harris-Stowe State University's published cost of attendance is $21,493. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $9,827, middle-income families pay around $9,814, and higher-income families pay approximately $6,238. Azimuth ranks Harris-Stowe State University #267 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and family circumstances. Harris-Stowe's affordability position reflects both the institution's public mission and the earnings outcomes graduates achieve. As a historically Black public university, the institution serves a student population with significant financial need; the affordability rank captures how well net price aligns with the long-term earnings trajectory of graduates. Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA, and Harris-Stowe participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,930, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,500; 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 $46,752, median federal debt of $25,930 projects to a monthly payment of about $293 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Harris-Stowe State University is a public university in Saint Louis, MO, and a strong fit for students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds who want an accessible, urban institution with a clear path into business and related fields. Graduates earn about $13,712 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Harris-Stowe State University in the 91.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,752, placing Harris-Stowe State University in the 8.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Harris-Stowe State University enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 73.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 47.3% are first-generation — and median student debt at graduation is $25,930, keeping borrowing relatively contained for students who need to finance their education. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and applied professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the institution's scale as a smaller urban public means students seeking a large research-university environment or broad STEM offerings should weigh other options.
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 Harris-Stowe State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Accounting and Related Services
10 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
34 graduates
Biology, General
38 graduates
Education, General
13 graduates
Sociology
18 graduates
Harris-Stowe State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional concentration in education and the natural sciences — a portfolio shaped by the university's identity as a historically Black institution serving a predominantly urban, working-adult student population in Saint Louis. Biology, General is the largest program by graduate count, with 38 graduates annually, followed by Criminal Justice (34 graduates), Business Administration (29 graduates), General Studies (25 graduates), and Sociology (18 graduates).
Across 14 programs serving roughly 231 students annually, the institution's degree output reflects a practical, career-oriented focus aligned with regional employer demand. The strongest early-career earnings come from Criminal Justice, where graduates earn median earnings of $49,010 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #142 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biology, General follows, with graduates earning median earnings of $48,694 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #221 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Education, General rounds out the top-earning tier, with graduates earning median earnings of $40,247 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #15 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The program-mix signature — led by Business (18% of graduates), Social Sciences (11%), and Education (10%) — reflects a direct-to-workforce orientation. Business and education graduates typically enter regional labor markets in management, administration, teaching, and social services, where four-year earnings reflect stable, in-demand roles rather than high-mobility national pathways.
The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how these program families align with broader labor-market trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Harris-Stowe State University's published cost of attendance is $21,493. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $9,827, middle-income families pay around $9,814, and higher-income families pay approximately $6,238.
Azimuth ranks Harris-Stowe State University #267 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and family circumstances.
Harris-Stowe's affordability position reflects both the institution's public mission and the earnings outcomes graduates achieve. As a historically Black public university, the institution serves a student population with significant financial need; the affordability rank captures how well net price aligns with the long-term earnings trajectory of graduates.
Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA, and Harris-Stowe participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,930, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,500; 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 $46,752, median federal debt of $25,930 projects to a monthly payment of about $293 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 Harris-Stowe State University earn median 4-year earnings of $46,752, placing Harris-Stowe State University in the 8.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,712 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 91.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Harris-Stowe State University #891 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Biology, General reports 38 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $48,694, ranked #291 nationally in its major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 34 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $49,010, ranked #167 nationally in its major.
Education, General reports 13 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $40,247, ranked #15 nationally in its major. Accounting and Related Services reports 10 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $50,792, ranked #283 nationally in its major.
