Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #135 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $93,514, placing Missouri University of Science and Technology in the 93.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning about earn about $26,667 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Missouri University of Science and Technology in the 98.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #48 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at Missouri University of Science and Technology earn substantially more than similar students at other institutions, reflecting a program mix concentrated in engineering and applied sciences that consistently translates into strong early-career and long-run financial outcomes. The institution's return on investment ranking and earnings beyond expectations position together signal that Missouri S&T delivers financial outcomes well above what student and family backgrounds alone would predict.
Missouri University of Science and Technology prices its degree across income levels in a way that reflects its public-university mission. Low-income families pay approximately $10,912 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,330, and higher-income families pay closer to $20,088. Azimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #542 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects how the institution's strong graduate earnings interact with its cost structure: affordability here is as much about what graduates earn as what they pay upfront. Need-based aid narrows the gap between Missouri S&T's published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay. The net price illusion is real at many institutions, and Missouri S&T is no exception — the sticker price of $29,231 overstates what lower- and middle-income families typically spend. Students who qualify for need-based grants and institutional aid see meaningful reductions from that headline figure, and the engineering-heavy program mix tends to support strong post-graduation earnings that further improve the long-run affordability picture. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,462; 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 $93,514, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Missouri University of Science and Technology is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, applied sciences, and technical fields who want a focused research university experience in Rolla, MO, with a program portfolio built around high-demand, high-earning disciplines. The earnings case is clear. Graduates earn median $93,514 four years after enrollment, placing Missouri University of Science and Technology in the 93.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $26,667 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 98.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access structure is worth understanding. 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.5% are first-generation students — a meaningful share for a technically specialized institution — and the university's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students reflect a 63.5% graduation rate for that cohort. Median student debt at graduation is $23,250, which is manageable relative to the strong early-career earnings the program mix typically produces. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the curriculum is heavily concentrated in Engineering and related STEM disciplines, so students whose interests fall outside those fields will find fewer program options than at a comprehensive flagship. The campus is also located in a smaller city rather than a major metro, which shapes the on-campus experience and local internship landscape — though the university's employer relationships extend well beyond the immediate region.
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 University Of Science And Technology hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #135 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Rolla, MO, Missouri University of Science and Technology enrolls roughly 5,521 undergraduates and anchors its academic identity in Engineering. Retention stands at 86.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.4%, figures that reflect strong degree completion relative to the institution's engineering-intensive curriculum. Where Missouri University of Science and Technology performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #48 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $93,514, and earn about $26,667 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Missouri University of Science and Technology in the 98.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The concentration in engineering and technical fields drives much of that earnings strength, with Engineering accounting for 66% of degree output. Mobility outcomes also contribute meaningfully to the composite, sitting in the 82.5 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Missouri University of Science and Technology admits about 72.5% of applicants, and 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 22.5% are first-generation college students — shares that place the institution in the 46.5 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 62.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by the pricing dynamics typical of a mid-size public research university in MO. For families weighing cost against long-term payoff, the return-on-investment strength is the defining feature of Missouri University of Science and Technology's composite profile.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Missouri University of Science and Technology prices its degree across income levels in a way that reflects its public-university mission. Low-income families pay approximately $10,912 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $13,330, and higher-income families pay closer to $20,088.
Azimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #542 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects how the institution's strong graduate earnings interact with its cost structure: affordability here is as much about what graduates earn as what they pay upfront.
Need-based aid narrows the gap between Missouri S&T's published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real at many institutions, and Missouri S&T is no exception — the sticker price of $29,231 overstates what lower- and middle-income families typically spend.
Students who qualify for need-based grants and institutional aid see meaningful reductions from that headline figure, and the engineering-heavy program mix tends to support strong post-graduation earnings that further improve the long-run affordability picture. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,462; 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 $93,514, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 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 University of Science and Technology earn median earnings of $93,514 four years after enrollment, placing Missouri University of Science and Technology in the 93.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $26,667 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 98.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Missouri University of Science and Technology #48 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Missouri University of Science and Technology's deep concentration in Engineering, which accounts for 66% of degrees awarded — by far the largest share, followed by other STEM fields at 4% and Business at 2%. Mechanical Engineering combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a central driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #69 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 240 graduates earning median earnings of $91,742 four years after enrollment — 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. Civil Engineering ranks #57 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 128 graduates earning median earnings of $85,053, and Artificial Intelligence ranks #49 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 120 graduates earning median earnings of $107,195.
Further down the lineup, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering and Chemical Engineering each post four-year median earnings of $98,264 and $94,686 respectively, reinforcing the breadth of strong outcomes across Missouri S&T's engineering and technical programs.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
120 graduates
Petroleum Engineering
19 graduates
Computer Engineering
71 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
95 graduates
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
76 graduates
Missouri University of Science and Technology's program mix is heavily concentrated in engineering and applied-science fields — a signature consistent with its identity as a specialized public research university. Engineering accounts for 66% of degree output, followed by other STEM fields at 4% and Business at 2%.
The largest program by cohort is Mechanical Engineering with 240 graduates, followed by Civil Engineering (128 graduates), Artificial Intelligence (120 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (95 graduates), and Chemical Engineering (86 graduates). That depth across multiple engineering subfields distinguishes Missouri University of Science and Technology from broader-portfolio public universities.
The highest-earning programs reflect this engineering concentration. Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $107,195 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #49 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Computer Engineering follows at $99,620, and Azimuth ranks Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering #93 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $98,264. Mechanical Engineering — the largest cohort — combines scale with strong pay at $91,742, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Most of these programs are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings closely reflect labor-market outcomes — graduates in mechanical, electrical, chemical, and computer engineering enter national hiring pipelines with strong starting salaries and steady demand. Across 29 programs serving roughly 1,319 students annually, 20 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, and the concentration in applied engineering and computing fields aligns with sectors showing durable [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/). ```
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Connecticut-Stamford Similar quality tier (#4262 ranked) | CT | 83% | $73,997 | #4262 | Compare |
University Of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Similar quality tier (#4259 ranked) | CO | 75% | $64,270 | #4259 | Compare |
Georgia State University-Perimeter College Similar quality tier (#4258 ranked) | GA | 91% | $47,384 | #4258 | Compare |
Rutgers University-Camden Similar quality tier (#4267 ranked) | NJ | 66% | $74,479 | #4267 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Boston Similar quality tier (#4250 ranked) | MA | 84% | $65,865 | #4250 | Compare |
