Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #762 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 45.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, earn about $2,801 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #649 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #762 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Maryville, Missouri, Northwest Missouri State University enrolls roughly 4,378 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 73.9% freshman retention rate and a 54.2% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion. Northwest Missouri State University delivers particularly strong outcomes in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #1048 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,801 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwest Missouri State University in the 45.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Education, which represents a substantial share of degrees and leads to stable career pathways with solid long-term financial outcomes. Access and affordability anchor the institution's value proposition. Northwest Missouri State University enrolls 27.3% Pell-eligible students and 30.8% first-generation college students, positioning it as a broad-access institution serving students from a wide range of economic backgrounds. The combination of manageable cost, strong graduation support, and earnings outcomes that exceed those of similar institutions makes Northwest Missouri State University a compelling choice for families seeking reliable long-term financial returns without the price premium of selective peers.
Northwest Missouri State University's published cost of attendance is $24,945. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,176, middle-income families pay around $13,959, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,796. Azimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #394 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. As a public regional university, Northwest Missouri State relies on a combination of federal and state aid alongside institutional scholarships to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state grant programs available to Missouri residents. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid, and merit scholarships are also available for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,213, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios and to explore how different major choices affect affordability and debt service, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Northwest Missouri State University is a strong fit for students interested in education and applied fields who want a public university experience in MO's rural northwest region. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,213, placing Northwest Missouri State University in the 12.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $2,801 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 45.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 27.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.8% are first-generation. The 86.1% admission rate makes the application process broadly accessible. Fit depends on program alignment — Education represents 19% of degrees, anchoring the institution's academic identity. Students whose interests match this focus will find strong regional outcomes and manageable costs.
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
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This is the Northwest Missouri State 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.
Northwest Missouri State University's published cost of attendance is $24,945. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,176, middle-income families pay around $13,959, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,796.
Azimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #394 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.
As a public regional university, Northwest Missouri State relies on a combination of federal and state aid alongside institutional scholarships to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The university participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state grant programs available to Missouri residents.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid, and merit scholarships are also available for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,213, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios and to explore how different major choices affect affordability and debt service, use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,213, placing the institution in the 12.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $2,801 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Northwest Missouri State University in the 45.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Northwest Missouri State University #1048 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to MO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). The earnings pattern centers on education and human services fields, reflecting the institution's dominant program family.
Teacher Education is the largest program with 131 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $42,508, performing at 0.9× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 95 students earning $57,907, at 0.8× benchmark, while Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 86 graduates reaches $46,501 at 0.9× benchmark.
Communication and Media Studies and $50,012 round out the core program lineup, each anchoring stable career pathways in their respective fields. The concentration in Education — which accounts for a substantial share of degrees — aligns with regional labor-market demand and contributes to the institution's consistent outcomes across the graduate population.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Similar quality tier (#22584 ranked) | OK | 65% | $44,358 | #22584 | Compare |
Minnesota State University Moorhead Similar quality tier in Midwest (#22594 ranked) | MN | 59% | $50,527 | #22594 | Compare |
University Of Hawaii At Hilo Similar quality tier (#22582 ranked) | HI | 61% | $47,856 | #22582 | Compare |
University Of Vermont Similar quality tier (#22572 ranked) | VT | 65% | $62,472 | #22572 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Carolina Similar quality tier (#22612 ranked) | PR | 55% | $30,626 | #22612 | Compare |
Computer and Information Sciences, General
22 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
27 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
28 graduates
Agricultural Business and Management
61 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
95 graduates
Northwest Missouri State University's program mix is anchored in education, business, and applied professional fields—a portfolio shaped by the institution's regional public-university identity and workforce-development mission. Teacher Education is the largest program with 131 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Subject-Specific Teacher Education, Communication and Media Studies, and Agricultural Business and Management.
Across 43 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's strength in applied fields and education pathways.
Agricultural Business and Management leads with median four-year earnings of $58,035 from 61 graduates, followed by Business Administration at $57,907 and Digital Marketing at $57,705. Biology, General and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General round out the highest-earning cohorts, with graduates earning $57,564 and $52,179 respectively.
These outcomes cluster in business, health, and technical fields where employers in Missouri and neighboring states recruit actively. Several of these programs represent grad-school-dependent pathways—particularly in Education, where four-year earnings undercount the trajectory of graduates who continue to advanced certification or graduate study.
Business and health-related programs, by contrast, are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter regional labor markets immediately and earnings reflect employment outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Northwest Missouri State University's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand.
