Students at the University of Missouri-St Louis benefit from exceptional affordability combined with earnings that consistently exceed expectations for graduates of similar public universities.
The university provides particularly strong value for first-generation students, who make up a significant portion of the student body and achieve solid middle-class outcomes.
Azimuth ranks the University of Missouri-St Louis 218th out of 506 public four-year institutions nationwide, placing it in the 57th percentile for overall value. What distinguishes UMSL is its consistent ability to deliver solid outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds, particularly first-generation college students who make up nearly 38% of the student body. The university combines reasonable affordability with earnings that modestly exceed expectations, creating a reliable pathway to middle-class financial stability.
UMSL graduates earn a median of $53,037 ten years after enrollment, with the university providing about $2,484 in additional earnings beyond what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. This earnings advantage, while modest, reflects the university's strength in practical, career-focused programs like nursing, business, and engineering that connect directly to stable employment in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
As a mid-sized public research university, UMSL offers the academic breadth of a comprehensive institution while maintaining the accessibility and affordability that many Missouri families need. The combination of below-average net prices for most income groups, manageable debt levels, and consistent graduate outcomes makes it a dependable choice for students seeking educational value without excessive financial risk.
The University of Missouri-St Louis offers a practical mix of programs that prepare students for stable careers in the regional economy. Business majors represent the largest cohort with 366 graduates earning around $40,035 early in their careers, benefiting from strong employer connections throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. The program's scale creates meaningful networking opportunities and consistent recruitment from regional employers in finance, healthcare administration, and corporate services.
Nursing stands out as both a large program and high-earning field, with 197 graduates achieving median earnings of $56,845. This reflects the strong demand for healthcare professionals and UMSL's established reputation in health sciences education. Electrical Engineering, while smaller with 33 graduates, delivers the highest earnings at $72,714, demonstrating the premium that technical expertise commands in the region's manufacturing and technology sectors.
The university's program portfolio emphasizes professional preparation over theoretical study, with most majors connecting directly to clear career pathways. This practical orientation helps explain why UMSL graduates achieve earnings that consistently exceed expectations, even if the absolute levels remain moderate. Students benefit from programs that prioritize job readiness, employer partnerships, and skills that translate directly into stable employment opportunities.
Graduates of the University of Missouri-St Louis achieve solid, middle-class earnings that slightly exceed expectations. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $53,037, with the university providing about $2,484 in additional earnings compared with similar students at other institutions. This earnings advantage places UMSL in the 58th percentile nationally, reflecting consistent but modest outperformance that helps graduates achieve financial stability.
Program-level outcomes vary meaningfully by field of study. Business majors, who represent the largest graduate cohort at 366 students, earn around $40,035 early in their careers but benefit from the program's scale and employer connections throughout the St. Louis region. Nursing graduates earn substantially more at $56,845, reflecting strong demand for healthcare professionals, while Electrical Engineering majors achieve the highest earnings at $72,714, demonstrating the premium that technical fields command in the local job market.
The university's program mix emphasizes practical, professionally-oriented fields that connect directly to regional employment opportunities. Business and nursing form the core of UMSL's degree output, both linked to stable career paths in healthcare, finance, and corporate services. While earnings growth may be more gradual compared with highly selective institutions, UMSL graduates enter careers with solid foundations and clear advancement potential in the diverse St. Louis economy.
The University of Missouri-St Louis delivers strong affordability across income levels, making it accessible to a broad range of Missouri families. Low-income students pay about $10,019 annually, well below national averages, while middle-income families see costs around $12,980 per year. Even higher-income families pay a reasonable $18,260, creating predictable pricing that helps families plan effectively for a four-year degree.
Debt levels remain manageable for most graduates, with typical federal student loan balances around $20,000 and Parent PLUS borrowing averaging $14,900. These amounts align well with UMSL's graduate earnings, creating sustainable repayment scenarios for most families. The university's loan repayment data shows that borrowers make steady progress paying down balances, with performance that consistently exceeds national medians for balance reduction and borrower success rates.
What makes UMSL particularly sustainable financially is the alignment between its modest costs and reliable earnings outcomes. With median graduate earnings around $53,037, most borrowers can handle standard 10-year repayment comfortably, and the university's track record shows that students avoid the default and repayment struggles that affect many public institutions. This combination of reasonable upfront costs and predictable long-term outcomes creates genuine affordability for working-class and middle-class Missouri families.
University Of Missouri-St Louis Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
