Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Missouri State University-Springfield #597 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,058, placing Missouri State University-Springfield in the 12.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Missouri State University-Springfield sits in the 57.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Missouri State University-Springfield #597 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Springfield, Missouri, Missouri State University-Springfield enrolls roughly 13,313 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.9%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Where Missouri State University-Springfield performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Missouri State University-Springfield #954 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,058, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Missouri State University-Springfield in the 57.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Business, a field that typically delivers strong early-career outcomes and aligns with regional labor-market demand. Access and affordability shape the remaining pillars of the composite. Missouri State University-Springfield sits in the 54.2 percentile for access and the 67.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 22.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.3% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Mobility outcomes sit in the 75.9 percentile, indicating that low-income graduates achieve earnings gains relative to similar students at comparable institutions.
Missouri State University-Springfield's cost of attendance is listed at $25,048, but need-based aid significantly reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $13,718; middle-income families pay around $14,905; and higher-income families pay approximately $20,576. Azimuth ranks Missouri State University-Springfield #466 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 State's aid structure combines federal need-based aid, state grants, and institutional scholarships to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and merit scholarships are available for qualifying students. Most students receive some form of financial aid, reducing the effective cost below the published attendance figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,992, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,092; 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 $53,058, median federal debt of $21,992 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Missouri State University-Springfield is a strong fit for students seeking a public research university experience in MO with a focus on business and related applied fields. The university's program mix and regional employer connections make it particularly well-suited for students planning to stay in the Midwest after graduation. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,058, placing Missouri State University-Springfield in the 12.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 57.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 22.0% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 32.3% being first-generation students. This access combines with solid outcomes — Missouri State University-Springfield sits in the 32.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix leans heavily toward Business (24% of graduates), and the regional labor market shapes post-graduation opportunities. Students whose interests align with these areas will find a clear pathway to stable, middle-class earnings in MO.
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 Missouri State University-Springfield hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Maine Similar quality tier (#15741 ranked) | ME | 97% | $48,653 | #15741 | Compare |
Miami University-Oxford Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15762 ranked) | OH | 75% | $55,076 | #15762 | Compare |
Nicholls State University Similar quality tier (#15765 ranked) | LA | 91% | $45,454 | #15765 | Compare |
Winona State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15773 ranked) | MN | 75% | $58,532 | #15773 | Compare |
Georgia Gwinnett College Similar quality tier (#15729 ranked) | GA | 96% | $47,730 | #15729 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Missouri State University-Springfield's cost of attendance is listed at $25,048, but need-based aid significantly reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $13,718; middle-income families pay around $14,905; and higher-income families pay approximately $20,576.
Azimuth ranks Missouri State University-Springfield #466 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 State's aid structure combines federal need-based aid, state grants, and institutional scholarships to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and merit scholarships are available for qualifying students.
Most students receive some form of financial aid, reducing the effective cost below the published attendance figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,992, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,092; 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 $53,058, median federal debt of $21,992 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 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 Missouri State University-Springfield earn median 4-year earnings of $53,058, placing Missouri State University-Springfield in the 12.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Missouri State University-Springfield in the 57.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Missouri State University-Springfield #954 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Missouri State University-Springfield's concentration in business and applied fields.
Teacher Education is the largest program with 376 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,413, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 263 students earning $43,956, and the The Business Administration program graduates 181 students earning $60,247.
Together, these programs anchor the institution's economic profile, with Digital Marketing and Finance rounding out the top five by enrollment and contributing to the institution's overall earnings trajectory.
Construction Management
67 graduates
Computer Science
52 graduates
Insurance
24 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
110 graduates
Mathematics
18 graduates
Missouri State University-Springfield's program mix is anchored in business, education, and applied professional fields. Teacher Education is the largest program with 376 graduates annually, followed by Psychology, General, Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Finance.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 3,440 students annually, the institution's dominant concentration in Business reflects its regional public-university identity and workforce-aligned mission. The earnings pattern shows strength in applied fields where graduates enter the workforce directly.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $79,615 four years after enrollment, followed by Finance at $72,227, Digital Marketing at $66,333, Kinesiology at $61,070, and Business Administration at $60,247. These highest-earning programs cluster in fields where regional employers actively recruit and where four-year earnings reflect stable labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-degree pathways.
The institution's program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways in business, healthcare, education, and skilled trades — fields aligned with Springfield's regional economy and broader Midwest labor-market demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families position graduates in sectors with sustained hiring and wage growth.
For students prioritizing early-career earnings and regional employment stability, the concentration in these applied fields offers clear economic alignment.
