Northwest Missouri State University Career Outcomes & Earnings

Affordability is the stronger pillar at Northwest Missouri State University, while its return measures sit lower in Azimuth’s comparison. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 29th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Graduates earn about $3,670 less than the model expects for similar students. That earnings beyond expectations measure, the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, is in the 41st percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $7,257. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $10,927.

Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $1,054. Four years after completion, median earnings are $52,213, in the 24th percentile.

The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $57,301, with the university $5,088 below it. Both comparisons point below the relevant benchmark.

Earnings vary across the program mix, with earnings scenarios ranging from $43,973 on the downside to $65,478 on the upside. These scenarios describe lower- and higher-earning program clusters, not observed groups of graduates.

Among higher-earning fields, median earnings four years after completion are $80,690 in Computer and Information Sciences, $72,893 in Accounting, and $65,692 in Finance. Those field results help explain the distance between the earnings scenarios.

An estimated 26.9% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix rather than observed enrollment. Earnings measured four years after completion cover federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled, so those continuing their education are outside that earnings snapshot.

At Northwest Missouri State University, program-level earnings vary substantially: the highest-earning fields sit well above a large teacher education program four years after completion. Computer and Information Sciences records median earnings of $80,690 from 22 degrees awarded, while Accounting posts $72,893 across 27 degrees awarded.

Finance has median earnings of $65,692 and 28 degrees awarded. At the more moderate end, Teacher Education records $42,508 with 131 degrees awarded.

The contrast between the higher-earning business and computing fields and teacher education means the earnings picture depends heavily on field.

Education accounts for 19.9% of bachelor's degrees awarded, making it the university's largest program family. Program-level earnings vary across the fields with the highest reported results, which gives applicants a more detailed view than a schoolwide figure alone.

Four years after completion, Computer and Information Sciences reported median earnings of $80,690 and awarded 22 degrees. Accounting reported $72,893 in median earnings with 27 degrees awarded, while Finance reported $65,692 and awarded 28 degrees. These are separate fields with distinct award volumes and earnings results.