Missouri Southern State University's published cost of attendance is $19,568. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $9,759, middle-income families pay around $11,233, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,083.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $19,568 |
| Tuition and Fees | $17,080 |
| Room and Board | $9,119 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,221 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$7,561 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $12,007 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,759 |
| $30–48k | $10,132 |
| $48–75k | $11,233 |
| $75–110k | $14,578 |
| $110k+ | $15,083 |
Missouri Southern State University's published cost of attendance is $19,568. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $9,759, middle-income families pay around $11,233, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,083. Azimuth ranks Missouri Southern State University #149 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. Missouri Southern's affordability profile reflects its public tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help families bridge the gap between sticker price and what they actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,174, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,400; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,419, median federal debt of $19,174 projects to a monthly payment of about $217 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $40,006 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,419, placing the institution in the 12.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Missouri Southern State University sits in the 81.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Missouri Southern State University #870 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 41.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures represent lifetime returns relative to MO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern reflects Missouri Southern State University's concentration in Business and applied professional fields. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 146 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $55,286, at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 90 students earning $39,419, and the The General Studies program graduates 89 students earning $46,892. Together, these programs anchor the institution's economic profile and align with regional labor-market demand in the Joplin area and across Missouri.
