Missouri Southern State University

    Joplin, MO, United States

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Public
    • Small city
    • Master's college

    or ask about this college inChatGPTClaude

    Missouri Southern State University Outcomes

    Missouri Southern State University has 24 programs with reported graduate earnings. The highest is Computer Programming (associate), where graduates earn a median $79,023 four years after finishing, against $59,646 for the same field nationally.

    Outcomes

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    38.7%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    62.8%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    Median earnings

    $48,193

    Former students who received federal aid

    Missouri Southern State University graduate earnings by major

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025

    Median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, one and four years after finishing, and the median federal loan debt they borrowed at Missouri Southern State University. The field median is the middle value for the same field and credential across every college that reports it. 81 more programs have too few graduates for earnings to be published.

    Largest program
    Business/Commerce, General
    155 graduates · $55,286 median earnings
    Above the national median
    6 of 24 programs
    Graduate earnings compared with the same field and credential at other colleges
    Lowest debt for the pay
    Criminal Justice and Corrections
    Median debt is 24% of a year's earnings

    Highest-earning programs

    Computer Programming (associate)
    $79,023
    Field median $59,646
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (bachelor's)
    $75,985
    Field median $86,020
    Computer and Information Sciences, General (bachelor's)
    $75,295
    Field median $85,000
    Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (associate)
    $67,589
    Field median $64,878
    Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (bachelor's)
    $64,765
    Field median $64,046
    Public Health (bachelor's)
    $63,965
    Field median $57,398
    Business Administration, Management and Operations (master's)
    $63,568
    Field median $78,303
    Political Science and Government (bachelor's)
    $62,576
    Field median $61,613
    Median earnings four years after finishing, or one year where four is not reported.

    Bachelor's programs

    Bachelor's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing21$74,541$75,985$86,02012% below$18,874
    Computer and Information Sciences, General20$61,609$75,295$85,00011% below$20,281
    Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, OtherNot available$58,740$64,765$64,0461% above$18,500
    Public Health9$52,382$63,965$57,39811% aboveN/A
    Political Science and Government1N/A$62,576$61,6132% aboveN/A
    Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness23$44,084$58,701$53,02411% above$18,128
    Business/Commerce, General155$48,665$55,286$64,01614% below$19,250
    Social Work20N/A$49,855$51,8594% below$18,000
    Criminal Justice and Corrections50$42,011$49,114$54,46910% below$23,660
    Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities85$40,068$46,892$52,02010% below$22,500
    Health and Medical Administrative Services17$44,468N/A$49,1219% below$23,380
    Communication and Media Studies12$39,863$41,771$53,82522% belowN/A
    Psychology, General24$32,074$41,008$50,06618% below$15,750
    Sociology4N/A$40,957$52,10521% belowN/A
    Biology, General40$35,442$40,412$57,55830% below$17,700
    Fine and Studio Arts14$38,393$40,402$41,5503% belowN/A
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods88$37,357$39,419$47,73017% below$24,000

    Associate programs

    Associate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Computer Programming18$61,029$79,023$59,64632% above$19,811
    Dental Support Services and Allied Professions23$55,626$67,589$64,8784% above$17,041
    Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions19$62,839$56,097$64,06312% below$15,450
    Criminal Justice and Corrections42$42,111$46,582$47,3062% below$23,660

    Master's programs

    Master's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Business Administration, Management and Operations25$63,568N/A$78,30319% belowN/A
    Curriculum and Instruction9$44,462N/A$57,17422% belowN/A

    Certificate programs

    Certificate programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Criminal Justice and Corrections95$43,598$42,086$58,77228% below$10,156

    Career paths from this college

    Careers linked to the programs Missouri Southern State University reports, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for the whole occupation, not for this college's graduates.

    Explore all 409 careers
    • Bright outlook

      Healthcare practitioners

      Nurse Anesthetists

      Median pay
      $236,590
      Outlook
      Much faster than average

      Master's degree

      Via Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

      • Critical Thinking
      • Reading Comprehension
      • Active Learning
    • Management

      Chief Executives

      Median pay
      $213,990
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Public Administration, Business/Commerce, General and 3 more

      • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Complex Problem Solving
      • Critical Thinking
    • Management

      Chief Sustainability Officers

      Median pay
      $213,990
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Public Administration, Business/Commerce, General and 3 more

      • Critical Thinking
      • Writing
      • Active Listening
    • Bright outlook

      Science

      Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

      Median pay
      $193,950
      Outlook
      Faster than average

      Master's degree

      Via Psychology, General, Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

      • Active Listening
      • Reading Comprehension
      • Writing
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Computer and Information Systems Managers

      Median pay
      $175,140
      Outlook
      Much faster than average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Computer and Information Sciences, General, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management and 1 more

      • Critical Thinking
      • Active Listening
      • Reading Comprehension

    Keep Missouri Southern State University on your list

    Save it to your Backpack and compare it with the other schools you are considering.

    Compare colleges
    1. 1. Save

      Add colleges to your Backpack as you research.

    2. 2. Compare

      Line up cost, admit rate, and outcomes side by side.

    3. 3. Share

      Email your Backpack to a parent or counselor.